Project at mill site moves forward

D. Burns Contracting on Thursday began demolishing the foundation of the former Milliken Textile manufacturing plant, commonly known as "the Big Mill." The company was awarded the contract Monday. The county plans to build a new government center on the 16-plus acre site. (Ledger photo / LARRY HILLIARD) Cherokee County Council on Monday took the final step in readying the old Milliken "big mill" property for future development.

By a unanimous vote, council awarded D. Burns Contractors the contract to demolish and grind the foundation of the former Milliken textile plant.

Burns Contracting submitted the low bid of $8.55 a ton, The contract is capped at $94,050 or 11,000 tons.

C.N. Boheler was the only other bidder.

Burns Contracting began the demolition work on Thursday. The company is expected to complete the job by mid-September.

Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue said once the foundation demolition is complete, the site will be ready for future development.

That future development is expected to be a new government center, but the county has given no timetable on when the project will begin.

Last summer, Milliken agreed to sell the former manufacturing site to the county for $435,000.

The county closed on the 16.8-acre site in April.

The county plans to fund its new government center partly with an estimated $3.5 million in tax revenue it has set aside in its capital building fund. The remaining cost will be financed with bonds, Belue said.

The county also will recoup up to $100,000 of the cost by selling three acres of the property to the City of Gaffney for use as a park.