By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Three months have passed since Cherokee County commissioners gave their approval for construction manager Garrett & Associates General Contractors to seek bids in the three construction projects the county is considering.

At Monday’s meeting, a representative from Garrett & Associates will present the county with a guaranteed maximum price for the work, and the court will have to determine whether to move forward with the projects or to scrap them.

The projects in question are the renovation of the old police department building in Jacksonville, the building of a new evidence room at the Cherokee County Jail in Rusk and the conversion of the drive-through at the justice of the peace’s office in Alto into a courtroom.

Despite higher-than-expected preliminary construction costs, the commissioners voted unanimously in April to allow the three office projects to move forward. At that time, several commissioners expressed strong reservations with the high cost of the construction. Initial estimates placed the total price tag at $858,361 — nearly $240,000 more than the county budgeted this year for its capital improvements.

According to County Auditor L.H. Crockett, the county budget this year includes only $710,000 for capital improvements, and $90,000 of that fund has already been spent on the courthouse’s new roof.

The preliminary April numbers placed the price of the Jacksonville project at $365,201, the Rusk work at $297,087 and the Alto renovation at $196,074.

While Sheriff James Campbell has previously stated that a new evidence room is an absolute necessity for his department, and Judge James Morris had the same sentiment regarding the Jacksonville project, Judge Teresa Phifer has said she doesn’t believe any amount of use she can get out of the Alto courtroom would justify its hefty cost.

The commissioners will decide Monday whether to bite the bullet now or pull the plug on the proposed projects. If they elect to wait, the ever-rising price of construction materials would mean attempting the projects again at a later time could potentially be even more expensive.

The court will also be presenting service awards to employees. Pins and certificates will be awarded for every five years of service to Cherokee County. An awards ceremony like this is held every six months.

Other agenda items include:

• considering laying utility lines in each precinct;

• the monthly report from L.H. Crockett, county auditor;

• the monthly report from James Campbell, sheriff;

• the monthly report from Eddie Lee, constable for Precinct 3;

• approval of the financial audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2007;

• approval of the Cherokee County Airport hanger lease agreement;

• hearing from Alan Lang about ACCESS’s local planning and network development;

• a budget amendment for a part-time data entry clerk;

• consider authorization to hire a veteran service officer;

• consider authorization to change job title of veteran service secretary to assistant county service officer;

• approval of the renewal of the county’s life and health insurance policies;

• consider authorization to maintain the county’s retirement program;

• consider acceptance of minimum bid offer from Lorene Jones for the tax sale of struck-off property;

• consider acceptance of the resale of three lots in the Shadybrook addition;

• approval of a resolution for a bridge funding agreement between the county and TxDOT;

• consider authorization for a committee to update the county’s subdivision regulation per the state legislature;

• approval of the plat for the Pecan Park subdivision; and

• paying the bills.

The Cherokee County Commissioners Court regularly meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month, at the county courthouse. The public is invited to attend all meetings.