Are the renovations too ritzy for Sewer Authority’s pocketbook?

A 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon meeting has been set to talk about cutting back on the projected costs to remodel the near 40-year old operation and administrative facilities of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority at Seneca. The meeting was scheduled last night after five representatives of the general contractor met with the full JRSA board and disclosed total costs of $1.9 million. JRSA members had originally expected to spend no more than $1.5 million. Westminster JRSA members raised questions last night about some of the aesthetic features proposed for their board room, the lobby, and the front entrance. “I just think we need to lean more toward functionality and cut some of the costs on some of that…,” Mayor Brian Ramey said. But Seneca utilities director Bob Faires countered Ramey by saying that the appearance of the sewer operations is something that a prospective industry would take into account. Chris Eleazer, JRSA executive director, echoed Faires, saying that Richard Blackwell told him that he was personally embarrassed for the county when he showed the existing sewer offices to a client. Ramey invited representatives of the general contractor, Hogan Construction, to take part in Thursday’s meeting and share their ideas as to what can be cut from the projected building project. Hogan’s Austin Eckles last night admitted the budget contains “some low, hanging fruit.”