WHITE LAKE — The White Lake Town Council and voted unanimously to award the contract for renovations to the proposed medical facility on Tuesday. The contract was let to HBS Contractors, which submitted the lowest bid of $108,725.

Absent for the meeting were Councilmen James Melvin and Tracey Trivette.

Others who bid on the contract were DeVane Builders with a bid of $112,000; Todd and Associates with a bid of $136,000; and Turner Construction with a bid of $152,000.

“The bids came in higher than anticipated,” said Mayor Goldston Womble prior to the vote.

Womble told the board the town has currently received two grants in the amount of $34,900 each from the Rural Center and Golden Leaf Foundation. The town was also awarded a $2,000 STEP grant. These grant funds would bring the total received thus far to about $71,800, which would leave the town a balance of about $36,200.

“We’ve applied for and hope to receive an additional grant of about $16,000 from the Rural Center,” said Womble.

He estimated if the most recent grant applied for is awarded, the town’s share of the renovations would be about $20,200 along with the cost of the land and other costs associated with it. Those expenses will be included in the lease agreement, said Womble.

Town Clerk Brenda Clark reminded the board the Golden Leaf foundation would give the town up to 80 percent of the funds awarded up front.

Councilman Larry Barnhardt questioned where the remaining funds will come from if the town moves forward with the project.

According to Womble, the land purchase costs plus whatever amount the town has to spend for renovations and so forth, are to be worked into the lease.

Womble added the town’s staff is actively pursuing other avenues for funding sources including grants which are associated with medical care and medical sites to see if they can obtain more funding towards the project.

In a related matter, the council unanimously approved a budget ordinance amendment to appropriate $10,000 from the general fund balance to the public building/medical building fund to cover preliminary costs associated with the renovations.

According to Womble, HBS Contractors were awarded a $5,900 contract to provide the plans for the renovations to the medical facility. Funds have also been spent in advertising, legal fees and design of the plans. The budget request is to pay those costs, said Womble.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the amendment.

In other business:

• The council received a presentation of the 2008-09 fiscal year audit from Bryon Scott of Thompson, Price, Scott and Adams. They voted unanimously to approve the audit.

• The council voted unanimously to appropriate $250 one time towards the David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professorship. The position is to be created within the School of Government in honor of Lawrence.

“We depend heavily on David and others at the Institute” said Womble.

He added the Institute of Government has rendered legal opinions and given town staff advice on matters without charging the town for those services.

The council approved the appropriation.

• The town heard an update from Police Chief Bruce Smith about cars that had items taken from them. According to Smith, the vehicles were unlocked at the time the items were taken.

“They’re stealing what they can. It’s happening all over the county and in Columbus County,” said Smith. “We do have a suspect.”

Smith told the board he would keep them advised of the situation.

• The council learned the town has received a settlement notice for a warranty claim on the shingles on town hall. The town experienced a leak in the roof in the vicinity of the post office area. According to Womble, the town’s staff has received a certificate from GAF-Elk Roofing material redeemable at any GAF-Elk dealer and is good for two years. The certificate is for 95 shingles. According to Womble, it takes about 118 shingles to roof the entire town hall facility.

“We’ll have to pay to have them put on,” said Womble.