Polk County’s construction bill for the new department of social services (DSS) building is getting smaller by the day.

Able Contractors did not meet the Monday, Nov. 14 contract deadline to gain a certificate of occupancy, so $300 per day fines began this week.

Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson said the county has paid the contractors a portion of the total but will extract money from what the county is holding for the liquidated damages.

The $300 per day includes weekends, so the fines could total $2,100 per week, Whitson said.

The contractors did obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy in order to move in large furniture. Whitson said desks and other furniture are being moved in this week.

Polk County commissioners recently agreed to extend the closing date for the DSS office in Tryon to Dec. 12 in order to move into the new building, located off Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring. The new building is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The previous move-in date was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21, with the DSS office closed for the moving on Nov. 18. Commissioners had originally hoped DSS staff would be in the new building by the end of October.

The date was most recently pushed back almost a month because heating and air conditioning controls were not correct and the soffit was not completed.

Whitson said he is unsure when the soffit will be completed, which is what is holding up the certificate of occupancy.