Improvements to the Jackson County Memorial Building are finally coming along after experiencing a major setback.
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Hope Vargas said renovations to the building were temporarily paused after flooding from a rainstorm last July, but have since resumed. Vargas said the building is asbestos-free, mold-free, and has a new roof and windows
“We are very deeply in the middle of all of the renovations,” Vargas said. “Of course, it had to be entirely gutted, and they are currently working on the upstairs and downstairs plaster on all of the walls.”
Vargas said she hopes that in the next few weeks, the contractor will begin work on the plumbing and electrical systems. Vargas said the goal is to have the renovations completed by Fall.
“All of the plumbing needs to be updated, and then the electrical as well has to be completely redone,” Vargas said. “Of course, then we will start kind of working on the finishes. The flooring, the painting, and just getting everything set. All of the fixtures and everything. So there is still quite a bit of work to do, but the good thing is we’ll have nearly a brand new building at the end of it.”
The Memorial Building housed the American Legion, Anti-Drug Coalition, and the Chamber of Commerce. Vargas said those entities will still be housed in the building, but renovations will also create a new space.
“The hope is that we will also have a telehealth room that people can come and, of course, it would be free, you would just need to come and book that room, but it then could serve the community,” Vargas said. “And that way it would be a free resource for internet wifi to be connected in various ways, and then it could also be a community center type resource where organizations can gather and meet.”
Vargas said additions that may come to the building are a designated parking lot behind the building with true ADA accessibility into the main side entrance, and stairs to better connect the Library to the Memorial Building. Vargas said those additions will only be completed if remaining project funds allow.
