The Blount County E-911 Communications Board of Directors finalized subcontractors, vendors and a cost for its new facility Thursday at a called meeting.

Three representatives from Hickory Construction, Inc., which is managing construction of the project, appeared before the board with their recommendations for subcontractors and vendors.

Chuck Alexander, executive vice president of Hickory Construction, said officials received pricing from more than 140 subcontractors and vendors for the new facility. Alexander said the cost of the building, with their recommendations, would fall at $2,437,174. The original projected cost of the project was $2.6 to $2.7 million.

"The nice thing is - it's under what we thought it would cost," Alexander said.

Board Chairman William R. Brewer Jr. and Jeff Fletcher of Fletcher Architects Inc. said this cost does not include audio visual, telephone, computer wiring, antenna tower and fiber optics.

Blount County subcontractors and vendors were selected to do the following jobs:

Excavating - Blount Excavating

Paving - East Tennessee Paving

Concrete - RF Becker

Metal studs, drywall and ACT - CRC White

Painting - Rayco

Access Flooring - CRC White

Electrical - Flynn Electrical

The following work will be provided by companies not located in Blount County:

Masonry - Olan Ford Masonry

Insulation - Eagle Insulation

Roofing - Turner Roofing

Flooring - Battles & Battles

Millwork - Cabinet Craft

Metal building erection - Benny Hulling Erection

Sprinkler - Morristown Sprinkler Company

Plumbing & HVAC - Cherokee Group

Hickory representatives said that close to 50 percent of the work was being done by Blount County businesses.

Board member Scott Helton pointed out that the board wanted to "keep Blount County people on the payroll - that was the goal from the onset." Helton asked if some of the work that was recommended to be done by companies outside of the county could instead be done by Blount County businesses.

Jim Pack, vice president of commercial operations at Hickory Construction, said they went to all Blount County companies and asked them to bid. He said some did not bid, some do not make bids for commercial work, some were not economically sufficient and some bid too high.

Pack said that some of the Blount County businesses that were chosen were not the cheapest, but were close to the lowest price and they chose them because they were local. Alexander said it was also important for them to find subcontractors and vendors that would get the work done on time.

Board member Bob Kidd moved to approve Hickory Construction's recommendations and Steve Hargis gave the second. The board unanimously agreed.

The 16,645-square-foot Communications Center will be located beside the Blount County Sheriff's Office training facility off Honeysuckle Road behind the Alcoa-Maryville-Blount County Landfill. The buildings' entrances will face each other and the Communications Center will be located on the Honeysuckle Road side of the property.

The current 9-1-1 building and property on Louisville Road at the U.S. 129 Bypass was recently purchased by ALDI discount food stores for $1.55 million. 9-1-1 employees have six months to vacate after the closing date, which will be in 60 to 90 days. The new building is projected to take about 8 months to complete.