News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Bids to replace parts of the roof at the Three Star Mall for a new Warren County Senior Center came in slightly over budget.
Warren County Executive Terry Bell said the bid came in at $452,000. Bell said while that number is some $50,000 higher than expected, it is well within the range set by the county budget.
“Right now, they’re doing a meal program three days a week over there and those people, until she gets ready to serve the meal, have to stand outside,” Bell said. “When we get moved over to the Three Star Mall, they’ll be able to be in the common area and not be in the cold or in the hot in the summertime and it will just really be beneficial to our senior center.”
Bell said the cost of materials accounted for the unexpected high bids. Bell said purchasing and renovating a space is still less expensive than buying land and building.
Warren County purchased that space in the mall to expand its health department and senior center. The county recently approved a 20-year lease for the senior center to use the space.
“We hope all of the businesses that are there stay,” Bell said. “We hope the additional traffic over there will bring people back to the mall and increase their income.”
Bell said he projects there to be 250-300 more people visiting the mall every day once the roof is complete and the senior center is up and running.
“We’re a growing county but we’re still a small town and we want to keep our heritage,” Bell said. “We hope that everybody will take a look at us when they come through.”
Bell said the 16,000 square feet of space for the new facility will allow the Warren County Senior Center to serve almost twice as many people every day. The mall location also has suitable parking, which has been an issue at the existing center. Bell said the county will add a security system to the mall as well.
