WHITE LAKE — A proposed medical facility in the town of White Lake took one more step toward becoming a reality on Tuesday.

The council voted unanimously to accept a bid from HBS Contractors in the amount of $5,900 to design plans for the renovations of the proposed medical facility. Councilman James Melvin did not attend the meeting.

“If you recall, we were initially working with Bladen County Hospital on plans for the location of a medical facility here at the lake,” said Mayor Goldston Womble.

According to Womble, Cape Fear Valley/Bladen County Hospital contracted with Summit Designs to create floor plans for the medical facility at a cost of $4,800. The town was to pay half the cost if BCH entered into a lease agreement for the facility, added Womble. BCH ended up paying the entire $4,800 since they did not lease the facility.

After reviewing the plans created by Summit Designs, the potential lessee requested changes be made to the design to make the facility more user-friendly. Womble informed the board the town staff had learned it would cost about $8,000 to have Summit Designs to amend the plans. 

Womble added the town contacted other local engineering firms in an effort to keep the renovation costs as low as possible and received a proposal from HBS Contractor in the amount of $5,900.

Womble told the board HBS Contractors is licensed to do this type of work and it is a service so it doesn’t have to be put out for bid.

The board voted unanimously to allow HBS Contractors to create the design plans for the renovations.

In other business:

• The board approved a request by the North Carolina FFA Association Board of Directors to name the two private drives within the White Lake FFA Camp to “R J Peeler Way” and “S B Simmons Lane.” According to Womble, the request had already been approved by Alisha Evans with 911 Addressing.

• The board learned from Public Works Director Tim Frush the newly erected water tank on U.S. 701 is expected to be online in mid-October. 

• The town is seeking folks who are interested in serving on a steering committee for the planned 2009 N.C. DOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant project. Those wishing to serve may contact Town Clerk Brenda Clark.

• The board also heard an update regarding paving in the Turtle Cove community. According to Womble, the paving was to take place in three phases so long as there was sufficient Powell Bill money to support the project. The first two phases have been completed and the third phase of the paving project is slated to begin this fall, according to Womble.