Newnan Centre now looking at mid-April opening
By JOHN A. WINTERSjohn@newnan.com
The long-delayed Newnan Centre meeting facility has a new opening target date — mid-April 2013 — about nine months later than planned.
In addition, workers with new contractor Headley Construction have found problems with the previous contractor’s work including welds in the structure steel on the roof, and some plumbing issues on the roof as well, Parks Avery, chairman of the Newnan Convention Center Authority, told authority members during their meeting Thursday.
“I’ve begged them to try and beat that,” Avery joked, adding Headley was not making any promises. In reviewing the status of construction when Headley took over, Avery said “they saw some issues” with welds on the roof, as well as some questions about rough plumbing.
The convention authority will present those repairs to the bonding company that insured the original contractor’s work for repayment, Avery said. Also, engineers are conducting tests of the parking lot site as there are some questions as to whether the soil is property compacted.
In other action Thursday, the authority voted unanimously to approve the 2013 budget.
The budget calls for $364,244 in revenue and the same amount in expenses. The majority of income includes about $155,000 for rentals and $173,000 in transfers of hotel/motel and rental car taxes from the city of Newnan to the authority. The largest expenses are salaries, both full-time and part-time.
“We are hoping to break even this year and hopefully start improving next year,” Avery said.
The Newnan Centre will be next to the Coweta School System’s Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
