County votes to release funds

Will pay $301,000 to Templeton Construction for jail expansion project

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The Henderson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to release most of the funds that had been held in retainage pending completion of the Henderson County Jail expansion project.

According to the Texas Government Code, “retainage” is the part of a contract withheld by a governmental entity to secure performance of the contract. The $301,000 payment to Templeton Construction Tuesday, leaves $200,000 in the retainage account.

“The way retainage works is — five percent of the total cost is held until we are sure everything is all right,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry West said. “The architect said work was complete on these items and the money could be released.”

Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade Mckinney said he voted to release the latest payment despite disappointment with the time it took to complete the jail project.

“The money is owed. I’m ready to go with it,” McKinney said. “This is money that will pass through from Templeton to the vendors. It’s not fair to hold up their payment.”

McKinney said concerns about the roof are among the problems delaying payment of the final $200,000.

Ground was broken on the jail expansion in July 2006, with a construction schedule of 16 months for the new portion and an additional four months for the remodeling phase. A tentative completion date was set for January 2008. The expansion portion opened in June of 2008, while the renovation was generally complete by January 2009.

In other action, Commissioners approved a list of election judges and alternates who will serve from 2009 though 2011. Henderson County Election Administrator Denise Hernandez said the new list has been approved by the Secretary of State’s office.

The election judges first test will be in November when voters will consider about a dozen propositions in the 2009 Constitutional Amendment election. In 2010, they will preside over voting in the March primary election which will include a race for governor.

The new Henderson County Democrat Chairman Marsha Head prepared a full slate of judges and alternates. Republican Chairman Don Geddie’s list was complete except for a judge in Box 3, Athens and an alternate in Box 3M, in Murchison. Hernandez explained Geddie had been unable to find anyone for the positions, but the list could be amended when workers became available.

Hernandez said most of the judges and alternates lived within the precinct where they would be serving.

“The parties can name someone from outside the precinct when none is available,” Hernandez said. “But it has to be on an emergency basis.”

Texas Election Code states both the presiding and alternate election day precinct judge must be qualified voters of the election precinct from which they are serving. However, if the political party to which the presiding judge is affiliated or aligned, received more than 85 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the most recent election in that precinct, the other political party’s alternate judge can be a qualified voter from anywhere in the county.

Commissioners voted to fill a position on the Henderson County Emergency Services District Board No.3 which serves the New York, LaRue and Poynor areas. Joe E. Burgamy was chosen to replace Buzz Sides, who resigned recently for personal reasons. The unexpired term runs through Dec 31, 2009.

Other actions by the Commissoners include:

• renewing the interlocal agreement with the Andrews Center for mental health services at a cost of $2,500 per month;

• accepting a reimbursement check from the city of Berryville in the amount of $15,000;

• approved a request to transfer a vehicle from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office to Precinct 2 Constable Norman Terry to be used by a deputy constable;

• authorized payment of $301,193 to Templeton Construction for services on the jail expansion project and

• authorized payment of regular bills in the amount of $421,893.

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