In a special meeting Thursday, Bradley County Medical Center board members approved a bid to replace the entire roof over the hospital.
Maintenance Director Tim Saunders said that while there is no timeline yet on when the work will begin nor on how long it will take, there does not appear any indication that the work will disrupt any hospital services.
The bid of Mid-Western Commercial Roofers Inc., with offices in Mobile, Ala.; Clinton, Miss.; and Paducah, Ky., was accepted for $517,720. The original section of the hospital was built in 1950, with additions in 1975, 1988 and over the lab and MRI at later dates. Saunders said this will be the first time that the entire roof is rebuilt. The roof measures 80,000 square feet.
Other bids were received from J. Reynolds and Co., Saginaw, Texas, $914,316; Harold Hall Roofing Inc., Pine Bluff, Stuttgart and Little Rock, $1,189,500; and Reynolds Construction and Commercial Roofing, White Hall, Ark., and Springfield, Mo., $588,954.
Saunders said several recommendations were received from other companies that had used Mid-Western. A 20-year warranty will be included in the project.
Board Chairman Freddie Mobley said he wondered if supply chain issues would affect the roofing.
The materials removed will be disposed of by the vendor at a coordinated location.
“It needs to be replaced,” Saunders said.
A motion was offered by board member French Wynne III to accept the low bid and pay for the new roof out of county sales tax funds. The motion passed unanimously.