By Kristen Tribe | Published Thursday, July 2, 2009
Commissioners Monday voted to hire Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects to design actual plans for a new courthouse. The work will take 10 to 12 months and will cost $231,000.
Commissioners Monday voted to hire Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects to design actual plans for a new courthouse. The work will take 10 to 12 months and will cost $231,000.
The firm worked for 14 months with county staff to determine space needs and presented commissioners with a stacking diagram of a building and basic design ideas at a special June 4 meeting.
"The next phase is to sit down and get very specific on each area and do a floor plan that will hold. In the second phase, I would have to employ mechanical and structural engineers, and I would like to use a third party cost estimator," firm representative Charlie Kearns said.
Kearns said until decisions are made on actual square footage, mechanical systems and structural systems, he wouldn't be able to give commissioners an exact figure on the cost of a proposed building.
County Judge Bill McElhaney said the number of buildings that the county currently operates from is inefficient.
"Citizens have to run here and there, plus the expense (of operating so many buildings)," he said. "A lot of the proposed design will add safety and security to areas that have zero now."
Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Burns added that the problem is not going away.
"Terry (Ross) and I got on the court and previous courts knew we needed to build a jail but put it off and made it tougher," he said. "I think if we continue with it we won't be adversely affecting future courts."
McElhaney also said the current courthouse would not be "locked and desolate."
"The county judge office would remain, and some other departments would be moved in here," he said. He added that the second floor courtroom would be used for county commissioner meetings.
In other business, county engineer Chad Davis told commissioners that staff would begin moving into the Wise County courthouse annex in Bridgeport next week. Phone service was to be switched on Monday. Hydromulching at the site was finished last week.
He also told commissioners that paving at the animal shelter should be complete by the end of the week.
Commissioners also approved the formation of a committee with Burns and Tom Goode to conduct interviews for a director's position on the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board.
Commissioners suggested people to be considered for the job. Ross nominated Bill Lewis; Richardson mentioned Mike Rawlings; and Burns suggested Ross Mueller.
Commissioners also:
heard that fire marshal interviews will likely be conducted next week;
approved seeking bids on 2010 police sedans and bridge materials;
rescinded a call for bids for radio equipment and frequency upgrade;
approved a $2,500 donation to the SPCA to cover costs of caring for animals in the case involving Sherri Jo Berend three years ago;
rescinded a contract with the city of Newark regarding sale of boat ramp keys; and accepted a $500 donation from Pella Cemetery.
