Commissioners to spend $435,000 on Suwannee Valley Nursing Home

JASPER - The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners discussed their obligations to the Suwannee Valley Nursing Home expansion at a meeting on Tuesday, July 19.

At a meeting in November 2015, the board agreed to provide construction assistance in the amount of $250,000, engineering services and construction plan assistance via County Engineer Greg Bailey and site preparation.

County Engineer Bailey came back with the cost of the engineering services and construction plan assistance at $185,000.

According to commissioner Randy Ogburn, the cost of the engineering services were higher than they originally thought it would be.

Bailey stated that he had come down on the price as much as possible, but most of the fees were from sub contractors for architecture, mechanical, electrical and fire protection services.

According to commissioner Beth Burnam, the nursing home plans to increase the number of private rooms available to patients.

The board accepted the contract with Bailey.

Commissioner Josh Smith suggested the board reach out to the Hamilton County Hospital Board or Hamilton Development Authority Board about the possibility of sharing the engineering cost.