Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

June 10, 2008

Firm to repair courthouse dome selected

Commissioners express concerns about contract clause but vote to move forward

By Rich Flowers

A scheduling conflict moved the Henderson County Commissioners Court into the cozy confines of Justice of the Peace Pct. 6 Milton Adams’ courtroom Tuesday.

There, commissioners approved hiring Wharry Engineering to design repairs to the copper roof on the Henderson County Courthouse and oversee the construction project.

Wharry will provide the service at a cost of $16,100, which includes selecting the contractor to do the repair work.

“I read somewhere in this contract that they would be the go-between, between us and the contractor,” Pct. 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence said. “We’re not going to have any say-so about who repairs it. But under the heading ‘specific exclusions,’ it says if there’s any lack of performance (by the contractor), Wharry’s not responsible for it.”

The other commissioners were also concerned about the wording of the specific exclusions clause, but believed it was important that the county act on the proposal to get the project under way. Commissioners voted to approve the proposal 3-1, with Lawrence opposed. County Judge David Holstein, who was attending a civil trial involving the county, was not present.

Wharry representatives inspected the dome on Feb. 25 and March 12, looking at its interior and exterior, as well as the courthouse attic. In April, the company presented commissioners three possible plans for repairs.

Commissioners chose the least expensive route at an estimated cost of $68,000, anticipating that a full refurbishing of the dome would be done whenever the county performs a historical restoration of the entire courthouse. The vote was 4-1, with Lawrence opposed.

In other action Tuesday, commissioners accepted the resignations of Mike Whorton and Charles Powell from the Emergency Services District No. 4 board.

ESD No. 4 serves the city of Tool and the surrounding area.

Commissioners then appointed Tamra Brickey to serve the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2008, and Monty Pennel for a term ending December 31, 2009.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Hall said Wharton resigned for personal reasons. Powell resigned to avoid a possible conflict of interest. His son-in-law has been hired to build a fire station in the district.

“They both have done a great job,” Hall said of Whorton and Powell.

Commissioners also:

• approved a five-year renewal of a lease agreement between the county and the Public Library Fund for the land where the Henderson County Clint W. Murchison Library is located, at a cost of $1 per year;

• approved renewing the rental agreement with Applied Concepts for radar equipment used by the Department of Public Safety;

• accepted a reimbursement of $4,146.64 from the city of Trinidad for road materials used in repairs done in the city;

• approved an interlocal agreement between the Athens Independent School District and the county for the lease of election equipment for the May 10 school board and bond election; and

• approved payment of bills in the amount of $268,294.06.

Text Only
Local News
  • Commissioners re-appoint three current Fair Park Board members

    The Henderson County Commissioners Court, by a 3 to 2 vote, Tuesday, voted to re-appoint three current members of the Fair Park Board to new terms.
    Chairman Bob Miars and members Ken Hayes and Mark Davis were chosen to serve an additional two years, with their terms to run through Dec. 31, 2013.

    February 7, 2012

  • Walmart workers cooperate with APD

    Walmart employees and the Athens Police Department spoiled a scheme to steal televisions from the store, Monday afternoon, leading to three arrests.

    February 7, 2012

  • Man named in plane theft

    Had it not been presence of a truck that authorities were able to trace to a Nacogdoches man, the search for a plane stolen from Athens Airport might be as difficult as finding a single bird in the sky.
    The 1980 model Cessna reported missing on Jan. 28 was recovered Monday by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, which had been assisting the Athens Police Department in the case.

    February 7, 2012

  • Hornet dance.JPG Dancin’ with Henry

    Four-year-old Janiyah Ray gets funky during halftime of the Athens Hornets' varsity boys game against Rusk last Friday at AHS Gym. Henry the Hornet (also known as Will Carter) began a dance routine as halftime began, and Ray couldn't help but run out of the stands and join in — much to the delight of the home crowd.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Bel Air kids.jpg Students help honor veterans

    Congressman Jeb Hensarling is asking students across the 5th Congressional District to help him honor the service and sacrifice of veterans by participating in the annual Valentines for Vets program. Pictured are students at Bel Air Elementary who took part in the project. In the front row are Kaytlen Hurley, Meagan Miranda, Coralyn Happel, Reagan Farley, Emily Rodriguez, Julian Cazares and Camryn Pair. In the second row are Alondra Carillo, Louis Delagarza, Morgan Gould, Alexis Robles, Caroline Moore, Madison Wilson and Renee Campbell. In back are Amy Gould, Caleb Humphries and Ricardo Sanchez.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airplane theft suspect arrested

    Authorities in Nacogdoches County arrested a man Monday in connection with an airplane stolen from the Athens Municipal Airport last month.

    February 6, 2012

  • Accident investigation continues

    PAYNE SPRINGS — Police in this community are investigating an accident on State Highway 198 last Friday, involving a small car which sideswiped a 1996 GMC Z-71 truck, which was pulling a 16-foot utility trailer.

    February 6, 2012

  • Political parties continue waiting game Monday

    Henderson County Republican and Democratic leaders continued to play the waiting game Monday concerning the upcoming primary elections.
    County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said that as of Monday afternoon, progress had been made toward getting an agreement on contested redistricting maps.
    “Nothing is set in stone yet,” Hernandez said.

    February 6, 2012

  • APD arrest suspect with multiple recorded arrests

    The Athens Police Department made a felony drug arrest at a traffic stop on Friday night.
    Karen Louise Harris, 48, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (one gram to four grams).

    February 6, 2012

  • Woman stopped, arrested in GBC

    GUN BARREL CITY  — Donna Jean Schultz, 43, of GBC was stopped by a Henderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy last Friday at about 6 p.m. for a minor traffic violation near CJ’s parking lot off State Highway 334 and U.S. Highway 175.
    The minor traffic violation proved to be the least of her problems. 

    February 6, 2012