Town council approves additional $40,000 for Lakeview Senior Center repairs
Budget amendment addresses upper floor occupancy requirements
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 22, 2026
Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman discusses proposed repairs for the Lakeview Senior Center with the Black Mountain Town Council, Jan. 21. Elected officials approved an additional $40,000 to fund the project in the special call meeting. Photo by Fred McCormick
A proposed budget amendment allocating an additional $40,000 to repair the upper level of the Lakeview Senior Center was approved unanimously, Jan. 21, in a special call meeting of the Black Mountain Town Council.
The resolution to transfer money from the town’s unassigned Helene fund balance was adopted in an effort to cover the cost of the project, which is anticipated to exceed the initial estimate of $15,000.
Elected officials, last October, approved funding to repair previously undocumented fire damage to support beams below the top floor of the facility on the northeast edge of Lake Tomahawk. Charring was discovered when crews removed ceiling tiles above the ground level, which experienced significant flooding during the natural disaster in September of 2024.
In response to the finding, permitted occupancy of the upper floor, which hosted activities for local seniors through the town’s recreation and parks department prior to the storm, was reduced to no more than eight people. Town staff, in an Oct. 23 special call meeting, advised the council that a $15,000 budget amendment would likely cover necessary repairs and allow activities for seniors to resume.
Multiple contractors provided estimates “significantly higher” than the amount originally allocated for the project, town manager Josh Harrold told elected officials last Tuesday.
“Based on conversations with contractors, the project will likely be between $40,000 and $50,000,” he said. “One reason the cost is significant is the cost of materials necessary to achieve the load requirements. As the building has been modified over the years, the electrical and plumbing work has violated building codes and impacted the integrity of the flooring system.”
Infrastructure, including pipes and electrical wiring, must be relocated, Harrold added.
Initial estimates examined the fire damage and not the load requirements, according to Councilmember Doug Hay, who asked staff to elaborate on those differences.
"When you start having to move plumbing and electrical work, you’re looking at more trades and looking at more money,” the manager responded. “Whereas, if you’re dealing with fire damage, you’re reinforcing the floor joists and not dealing with plumbing or electrical.”
Mayor Michael Sobol questioned the basis of the cost increase, characterizing the holes used to connect the utilities as “small,” while suggesting the town re-drill into new joists, before inquiring about the overall price.
“I’m trying to figure out where this extra money is coming from, or going to, to do the repairs,” he said.
Harrold recommended calling the building inspector to the board room to discuss the intricacies of building code, but Sobol declined.
“I don’t have an answer that, Mr. Mayor,” he said. “It’s not a bid I put together. I’m not a contractor, and neither are you.”
Hay interjected to clarify that the town did not set the price, which was based on bids for the project.
Sobol and Harrold confirmed approximately $5,000 was used from the initial funding for engineering, leaving $50,000 to complete the work, pending the adoption of the resolution.
The mayor followed by asking for a proposed timeline for the completion of the project. Harrold replied the response would be up to the contractor.
“If it’s approved today, the money is there for them to start working, when they’re ready to do it,” Harrold said.
For consideration as a responsive bidder, the town requires contractors to be available to begin the work within five days of being awarded the project, assistant town manager, Jessica Trotman, told the council.
“We have two official bids that have come in,” she said, adding those requests varied in price from $30,000 to $60,000, while other inquiries fell within that range. “I would have to verify, before I award it, they could start within those five days.”
Sobol encouraged the town to prioritize the project, while Councilmember Ryan Stone concurred.
The Town of Black Mountain anticipates to the total cost of engineering and completed repairs of the flooring system supporting the upper level of the Lakeview Senior Center to range from $45,000 to $55,000. Photo by Fred McCormick
“I think we’re all in agreement that we want to get this open, get it safe and have the seniors back there,” Stone said. “The cost is certainly more than we thought, but that’s been the case with almost everything since COVID…
“But, overall the folks who are here today and who have commented to us, want see this work get started on this,” he continued. “I’m in favor of making the motion to approve this budget amendment now, to get us started on this process.”
Following the motion, Vice Mayor Archie Pertiller, Jr. affirmed the town council wanted the facility to reopen.
“I think everyone up here does,” he said. “We just wanted it to be done right, and if that’s wrong, then that’s wrong.”
Councilmember Pam King agreed with Pertiller.
“No doubt, it’s frustrating for everybody, but to attribute it to an unwillingness to do anything here, is just not true,” she said.
Sobol, Pertiller and King engaged in a contentious exchange, as the mayor reiterated his hopes that use of the center would resume operations within three months.
“It will be what what it is to get it done right,” King said.
“Well, that’s up to this board to make sure it gets done,” Sobol responded.
Pertiller advised the mayor of the town’s policy to require qualifying bidders can begin work within five day, before Hay redirected the council to Stone’s standing motion to approve the proposed funding.
“To address Michael’s concern, it was implied that we have to be direct about it to alleviate some of this,” Stone said, before addressing Harrold, Trotman and interim town manager Richard Hicks, who attended the meeting. “Once this motion is approved, certainly, if you will when you pick a contractor, make sure they understand how we want this to be expedited and finished as quickly as possible.”
The agenda item that followed recommended the approval of an agreement with Brevard-based Domokur & Associates to provide architectural services for the town’s public works building on Black Mountain Avenue, which has been inoperable since Helene. The firm will replace a previous engineer that was not meeting the town’s expectations, according to Harrold.
The assistant town manager offered an overview of the project history and a summary of the process.
“The building had approximately three-and-a-half feet of water, and the assessment from FEMA was not accurate, to give us what we were entitled to in reimbursement and properly scope the building. That is the first step,” Trotman said. “Once the scope is defined, as we have discussed previously, then they will have the task order for a design based on a scope that is blessed by our friends at FEMA.”
It is “unfortunate” that original firm did not meet the town’s standards, King said.
“Hopefully, these folks sound like they’re enthusiastic and are going to jump on it. We need to get some resolution over there,” she said. “We have many projects, as you well know, in the works, and this one needs to get going, too.”
The board voted, 5-0, to approve the agreement, as presented.
The final business item authorized the mayor to sign a previously approved proposal contracting the Piedmont Triad Regional Council to facilitate searches for a new town manager and finance director.
“I just want to note we’ve have lengthy debates about this for the last several weeks, and I think we’re all confident in Piedmont Triad’s ability and excited for them to get to work,” Hay said, immediately prior to a unanimous vote authorizing the mayor to sign the proposal.