Seneca Council hears update on Kellett Project

At their meeting this week, the Seneca City Council was given an update on the renovation project of the old Kellett Elementary School.  Seneca Mayor Dan Alexander gives details.  “The project is coming together very nicely; there have been lots of meetings to make sure that this is laid out to meet the needs of the Light and Water Department.  Everything except for the administration part, the billing and that part will stay in City Hall for right now, but all of Light and Water, the water, sewer and electric will move to that site.  We are hoping by May of next year that this project will be completed.” The Seneca City Council approved a $2.2 million bond issue last month for the renovation project, adds Mayor Alexander.  “There is a whole block there that we are getting ready to renovate and lots of the existing school we are going to be able to use.  Toward the end of this month, the bids will be coming back for the grading and for the actual renovations of the school.  We went through the bond process this past month and we have received those back.  We got an excellent rate this time, somewhere around 2.8% for a 20-year bond.  So, we are real excited about what the bond came back at and also we are qualified for 1% money to do some of that project too.” Mayor Alexander credits Utilities Director Bob Faires for heading up the project.  “It is a pretty major project; Bob Faires has done an amazing job getting the information.  Bob has also done a great job in working with the Hogan Firm, who is the one putting this project together for us.  We are looking forward to this taking place and being able to move because that is actually going to open up where they are now for Mark Crabee.  He is really cramped for space and needs additional room for his people to work.  So, we are actually trying to help several different departments.” Seneca received the old Kellett Elementary School building from the School District of Oconee County after Blue Ridge Elementary School opened on Oak Street a few years ago.