Polk County has accepted its final $53,475 check from North American Surety Company for the settlement of its department of social services (DSS) building.

County commissioners met June 1 and approved a final budget amendment of $53,475 from North American Surety, the bond company representing the contractors of the building. The check, along with $75,000 the county did not pay the contractors totals $128,475 as the final settlement to Polk County.

Commissioners accepted the settlement of $128,475 during its April 20 meeting after being in negotiations with North American Surety Company on behalf of Able Constructors.

The county discovered issues with the building, including problems with the sewer system and the HVAC system prior to moving into the building in December 2011. Able Contractors are no longer in business so the county dealt with its surety company. Contractors must purchase a bond as required by state statutes for projects over a certain bid threshold.

Some of the settlement has already been spent, such as for the sewer problems.

Last July, commissioners decided to move forward with many of the repairs to the building while still in negotiations with North American Surety Company.

Repairs to the sewer system began in September 2014, with the sewer line having to be dug out and replaced from the kitchen area of the building.

The former sewer line did not have the correct fall and was causing backups so was replaced.

The county expects this week for a new control system for the HVAC system to be installed, in hopes that will fix the heating and air conditioning issues in the building.

After discovering issues with the building, Polk County hired special consultants MBP Carolinas Inc. to determine what repairs were needed for the building’s HVAC system.

Issues in the building included warping of doors, blockage in the sewer line and humidity issues.

Part of the settlement with the surety company included the $75,000 Polk County did not pay Able Contractors because of the issues and for the project not being completed on time.