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A source at the education ministrys Education Physical Facility and Development Unit in Blantyre, an arm of the ministry handling the construction work, said from end May this year the ministry contracted Khama La Achemwali, Ledeco and J & J Construction company to rehabilitate Magawa Secondary School in Mchinji. Phale, Nasu and Mahagata Building Contractors were contracted to rehabilitate Mangochi Secondary School while Mkaka Construction company was contracted to rehabilitate Soche Hill Secondary School.
The contractors are owed about K38 million by the Treasury and Education Ministry; they have pulled out from their work stations because they have worked about three to four months with little or no pay. But this will work to the ministrys disadvantage because it will mean more costs because construction period has been extended, said the source who asked for anonymity.
After much discussion whether or not to add BB and pellet guns to a city ordinance, the Canton City Council voted 3-1 in favor of the ordinance. The incident before we had someone shot out from the city limits and shot out into the county and shot up a persons home and we couldnt do anything about it because we didnt have a city ordinance, said Canton Police Department Senior Operations Officer Michael Echols. We need something to stop it before it gets to this point. When a person walks out into their yard or something and using a gun recklessly, we can stop it before someones life is threatened or property is damaged. Echols said the ordinance was originally written to protect life and property. We have nothing, except disturbing the peace, to stop even a teenager from shooting a BB gun that hits a neighbors window across the street, Echols said.
Kentucky is receiving a grant from the United States' Department of Energy (DOE) to help teach builders and the public about the benefits of energy efficient buildings.The commonwealth will partner with the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture to develop a program curriculum and the Cooperative Extension Service to help spread awareness of energy efficient buildings to the public, specifically homeowners. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) will also help curriculum development and training.The application was for $485,731. A final award amount will be determined after the DOE negotiates and signs a final project agreement with the state. The University of Kentucky will also add an additional $140,933. The grand total of the project could be as high as $626,664 pending final contract negotiations with DOE.“This grant will help make Kentucky a leader in providing our citizens with better homes and buildings through education and technology," said Governor Ernie Fletcher.
The International Bank of Commerce is providing a $70 million construction loan for the Spring condominiums, to be built at Third and Bowie streets downtown. Developers said they plan to start work on the 41-story, 260-unit tower in early 2007, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2008. FOOD RETAILERS Neighborhood grocery for downtown opens Royal Blue Grocery, downtown's first neighborhood grocery story, opened Tuesday at 247 W. Third St., near the Second Street retail and entertainment district. The 1,000-square-foot store will cater to downtown's growing resident population, stocking staples such as milk and eggs, fresh produce and prepared foods, wine and beer. The founders are Craig Staley and George Scariano, who met when both worked at Chuy's.
Twice recently, Crouch and her children have found out their landlord plans to sell the home they had been renting. Rent has been costly, homes are scarce, and each successive search for a new residence has been more difficult. "I'm just having a really hard time," said Crouch, who works at New Mexico State University- Carlsbad. "There are lots of other people like me, I am sure." Rent has skyrocketed to around $800 a month, Crouch said, and she is currently unable to afford or locate suitable lodging for herself and her children. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Department of Housing and Urban Development can only help so many people. "We need some more community awareness about this. I'm not the only one in this situation," she said. "We need it (more affordable housing) now.
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report on Oct. 12 says the Southeast's economy remained a mixed bag in September, just as it was for the past several months. Further declines were noted in Southeast housing markets in September. The majority of builders and Realtors reported activity was down from a year ago and inventories continued to rise. New home construction was below year-ago levels in most parts of the region. .
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's leading general builder, today announced that construction costs in the third quarter 2006 are projected to increase over the second quarter 2006. According to the Turner Building Cost Index, the third quarter 2006 index will rise to 801, showing a 1.78 percent increase over the second quarter 2006 index of 787 and a 10.33 percent increase over the third quarter 2005 index of 726. Turner has made its quarterly forecast for more than 60 years. According to Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Building Cost Index, "The frenzied market activity of the past several quarters appears to be stabilizing. Although the strain on skilled labor remains, a lower level of volatility in commodities has served as a stabilizing influence on construction costs.
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