Rich Flowers
The Athens Review
SALINA, Kan. —
The Henderson County Commissioners court voted Tuesday to hire a company to drill for core samples on the property that will hold the new Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace building.
Commissioners voted 3-to-1 to enter a contract with Apex-Geo-Services to bore two holes, 20-feet-deep, for the samples.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence opposed the agreement. Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney was not present at the meeting.
County Judge David Holstein said the architect on the project could not proceed until the samples are complete. The samples will determine if the soil at the location is suitable for the foundation.
Lawrence said the $2,600 price tag is too high for the work to be done.
“It only takes about 10 minutes to drill the holes,” Lawrence said.
He also questioned the need for the depth of the drilling.
“I could understand it if they’re building skyscrapers,” Lawrence said.
After architects draw the plan of the project, the county will seek bids for a steel building. Once the steel building is in place, county maintenance will help finish the project with the help of inmate labor.
Commissioners voted in October to hire JML Architects of Jacksonville to work with the county on the building design.
The new structure will be on Farm-to-Market Road 315, near the existing facility.
The new building will ease overcrowded conditions at Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Sue Tarrant’s court. The current courtroom is often too crowded for jury pools, causing some to have to wait outside.
In other action, Commissioners authorized payment of bills in the amount of $232,594.
