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July 11, 2008

Who’s on the hook?

County commissioners discuss payment of jail purge system during meeting

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The architect for the Henderson County Jail Expansion and Sheriff’s Department officials appeared before Commissioners Court Tuesday to discuss a change directive for Templeton Construction.

The directive authorizes the redesign of a purge system in the section of the older portion of the Henderson County Jail set for remodeling. Although the work on a duct redesign project has been completed, the formality of approving the change has been held up by commissioners while they debate who should receive the $66,000 bill.

Architect Kenny Burns said Tuesday the cost of the purge redesign will not drive the total project over its estimated $12 million price. The question of whether the cost would come from contingency money put up by the county or funds put up by the contractor was still not answered.

“Templeton Construction Project Manager Fred Watkins has said the money is in the contingencies to pay for it,” Burns said. “He said when we wrap up the project, we will be within the guaranteed maximum price.”

Burns said contingency money was built into the cost of the project to pay for unforeseen items.

“We have a long list of things we have added or taken away during the project,” Burns said. “The result has been money added into the contingencies and money taken out.”

Watkins is expected to appear at Commissioners Court July 15 to give a detailed account of the use of the contingency funds throughout the project.

“He’s got a list with two columns. He wants to run down and show you what’s in each column and how much money is still there,” Burns said.

Henderson County Sheriff’s Assistant Chief Deputy Tony Allison was also present at the meeting. Pct. 4 Commissioner Jerry West asked Allison if he believes the renovation project will be finished in August as has been predicted in the most recent projection.

“Based on the progress of the construction and the past progress of the sub-contractors, I would say that the August date is not going to happen,” Allison said.

Allison pointed out that at the beginning of the project, four months was the estimated length of time for the final phase of remodeling.

“Fred Watkins believes that he has made some advances that can enable them to complete it faster,” Allison said. “But they have not met a date yet, so I have no reasonable expectation that they are going to meet this one. If you listen to the sub-contractors that are actually doing the work, I would say a four- to six-month time frame.”

Commissioners also voted to authorize County Judge David Holstein to negotiate with Brinkley Sargent to conduct a county facilities planning study.

Representatives of five companies chosen from a pool of 12 applicants came to the courthouse for interviews last month. On July 2, commissioners reviewed the presentations and narrowed the list to three, with Brinkley Sargent at the top. If Holstein and Brinkley Sargent can’t reach an accord, commissioners still have the option of going with another firm.

“I’ll try to have something by next week, but I’m not promising anything,” Holstein said of a deal with the firm.

Commissioners also approved:

• a request from Steen Cemetery Association, located on Highway 31, west of Malakoff, for assistance with trimming trees on about 400 feet of roadway going to the cemetery;

• a request from S and S Trucking to increase their fee for hauling services from $65 to $80 per hour; and

• payment of bills in the amount of $670,910.51.

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