Get ready to dance! New entertainment stage coming in Rutherford College

A new entertainment stage will be complete and ready for action in Rutherford College next spring if all goes according to plan.

The Rutherford College Town Council awarded the contract for building the stage to Hefner Construction of Valdese on Tuesday evening in a unanimous vote.

Three local construction companies — DDI of Hickory, Jonathan Holden Construction of Connelly Springs, and Hefner — had submitted bids for the project.

The bids, as Town Manager Jessica Bargsley put it, were “vastly different,” with Hefner’s winning bid at $88,000, Holden Construction at $145,000, and DDI at $400,000.

Bargsley recommended acceptance of the Hefner bid, saying, “I have researched their company and found that they receive glowing reviews.”

Councilman Carroll Hoyle backed Bargsley and said, “(Hefner) is an honorable company and they will do good, quality work.”

In its budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, the council had approved the expenditure of $250,000 to enhance the town’s parks and recreation program. The council had also agreed that construction of a stage for entertainment events would be a priority.

The stage will be constructed, Bargsley said, in the open field to the left of Town Hall.

The stage will be roughly 15 feet by 20 feet, with a block foundation, concrete slab, wooden beams, and a wooden or block back stop for sound projection.

The post and beam roof will include a tongue-and-groove ceiling for aesthetics, Bargsley said, and lighting and electrical outlets will be included as part of the construction.

Bargsley noted that the stage will be especially useful during the town’s annual Founders’ Day Celebration and during the annual Pigmaster’s BBQ Challenge as well.

Future plans include extending the town greenway in a loop around the stage and the area in front of it.

Hefner Construction’s low bid, Bargsley said, will free up additional funds for the greenway extension.

While the new entertainment stage is not expected to be ready for use until next spring, council members will see a change to their meeting room when next they gather on Monday, Sept. 8.

“We will have two new, large smart screens up and working by then,” Bargsley said. “One on the side for residents attending the meetings and one in the back for council members.”

The new screens will make it easier for town staff to deliver slide presentations and budget displays at council meetings, planning retreats, and workshops.

A new smart screen and projector will also be installed in the town hall’s Community Room adjacent to the council chambers.

Although the council traditionally meets on the first Monday of each month, that date — Sept. 1 — falls on Labor Day this year.

The council also on Monday evening approved a budget amendment increasing the town’s annual contribution to Burke County REACT.

REACT assists municipalities across the county with traffic control during special events — such as the Rutherford College Christmas Parade — and when traffic accidents or fires occur.

The council had initially allocated $2,000 in the current budget to REACT, but at the organization’s request upped that amount to $2,500.

Bargsley also informed the council that the Aztec Chef, a Mexican restaurant which is moving from Connelly Springs to a new location on Malcolm Boulevard, is hoping to be open at its new site by the end of August.