Repairs sought at 2 Lexington County facilities

Lexington County may use nearly $3.3 million in savings to pay for two building improvements that County Administrator Joe Mergo said are overdue.

He recommended that strategy Tuesday to pay for a new roof at the law enforcement complex and renovations at the auxiliary administration building that houses election officials and other agencies.

Both projects are included in a $120 million spending plan for the year starting July 1, an increase of $7 million over the current level.

County Council members are waiting for a clearer idea of revenue expected after completion of reassessment May 31.

It’s unclear if a pay raise is likely for the county’s 1,500 employees.

Council members are just starting to weigh compensation adjustments recommended in a study. Details on those recommendations have not been made public.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Mergo told them.

Meanwhile, council members approved buying a 4.8-acre site on U.S. 321 midway between I-77 and the State Farmers Market for another new emergency services center. Its cost is $360,000.

The site eventually will be a hub for firefighters, deputies and emergency medical staff serving the southeast corner of the 758-square-mile county.

When it will open is undecided, County Public Safety Director David Kerr said.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Repairs sought at 2 Lexington County facilities."