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January 14, 2009

More bad news about new jail

County wants answers regarding latest delay, cracks in kitchen, drainage issues

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The Henderson County Commissioner’s Court received news of more delays in the completion of the jail expansion project Tuesday, then voted to hold a $157,000 payment to Templeton Construction — the company that is overseeing the project.

Henderson County Sheriff’s Department Major Kevin Hanes, who told commissioners of two cracks in the new wing of the jail last Tuesday, said cracks had also been discovered in the concrete slab on the loading dock. Another problem has been found involving two shower drains in the new jail.

“In two separate cells there are shower drains that are evidently not in the proper position, because they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do,” Hanes said. “The showers are holding water and it’s never making it to the drain.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Hall said every delay is costly to the county, which is ready to begin contracting to house prisoners from other counties as soon as the construction project is finished and passes an inspection from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Jail Standards was expected to arrive Wednesday for an inspection, but that could be delayed, Hanes said.

“It doesn’t look like it’s ready,” Hanes said.

“They (Templeton) haven’t given you any answer as to what the remedy to these problems is going to be?” Hall asked.

A posted meeting to include county officials and members of the construction team is scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 p.m., Hanes said. Templeton officials called this week and said they could not make it on that date and were planning on coming Wednesday. A Wednesday meeting could not be attended by a majority of the commissioners court members because it would violate open meeting laws.

“All indications are, they’re ducking us,” Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade Mckinney said.

In other action Commissioners:

• authorized a $35,790.83 tax rebate to the Square D Company for the year 2008 and received a check from the Athens Economic Development Corporation for $5,569.17;

• approved a contract for the Regional Juvenile Detention Project for Fiscal Year 2009, enabling the county to receive $3,940 in East Texas Council of Governments Grant funds to be used once the local juvenile detention budget is spent;

• accepted a reimbursement of $766.04 for money spent to pave a parking lot at the Malakoff ISD facility on Star Harbor Road;

• scheduled a public hearing for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 3, concerning speed limits for certain roads in the Cherokee Shores Subdivision; and

• authorized payment of 2008 bills in the amount of $110,739.60 and 2009 bills in the amount of $917,415.38.

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