The Knox County Housing Authority voted today to accept a $754,000 bid for handicap accessibility renovations at Moon and Bluebell towers.
Housing Authority Executive Director Derek Antoine told the Board of Commissioners that work will cover 19 rooms in the two buildings.
“These were identified as ‘need areas’ for the agency,” he said. “So, compliance-wise, these things have to be done.”
Antoine says bids came in higher than expected and will require money from capital grant funds acquired in two separate years.
“We’re going to expend everything that’s left in the ’14, basically, and we will bring ’15 money in to play for this project as well,” he said.
The work is necessary to meet Housing and Urban Development standards under section 504, which covers tenants with disabilities.
“There are a few of the units that will actually, almost have a new floor plan,” Antoine said. “I shouldn’t even say almost, they will. Rooms are going to change around, sizing-wise and space-wise. So there are some things needing done.”
The $754,000 contract went to Hein Construction.
Also approved today was the reappointment of Lomac Payton as chairman of the board and Roger Peterson as vice chairman.
