Donley County officials will have a means of keeping the $3 million restoration of the 1890 courthouse within its budget if a state agency grants its approval this week.
Commissioners met Friday in a called session with project architect Chris Hutson of Volz & Associates for the purpose of approving a set of “deduct alternates” – options that would allow the county to scale back parts of the project if the bids come in higher than expected.
This week the county authorized advertising for bids and release of construction documents.
Hutson identified 15 possible deduct alternates totaling more than $800,000. If the bids are too high, the county could exercise one or more of those options to keep the restoration within the budget. The alternates range from not repairing the big stained glass window on the first floor for an estimated savings of $6,037 to not restoring nor replacing existing exterior stonework for an estimated savings of $294,147.
The deductive alternates have to be approved by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). Advertising for bids will begin as soon as THC makes its determination on that issue.
Hutson told commissioners he had estimated the Donley County project at $267 per square foot based on similar projects in Gonzales and Caldwell counties, which cost $131 per square foot and $250 per square foot respectively. The concern is that bids for Llano County’s project recently came in at $350 per square foot.
But officials say estimating a project this size involves a lot of guesswork because of the number of variables involved. While Llano County and other projects have come in higher, Hutson said he had seen it go the opposite way also. One library restoration his firm worked on was estimated to cost $2.2 million, but the bids came in at $1.2 million.
“It’s always easier to hope for the best and expect the worst,” Hutson said.
In other county news, the commissioners’ court met in regular session on Monday. Clarendon Mayor Tex Selvidge addressed the court regarding the new solid waste transfer station being built by the city.
The Board of Alderman are asking the county to close its dump near the municipal airport and use the city’s new facility. The county currently operates a dump box three days a week and has an $11,000 contract with BFI to haul the trash. According to Judge Jack Hall, the mayor said the city would charge the county $10,000. The city plans to keep its new facility open seven days a week. Commissioners took no action on this item, saying they want to hear from rural citizens on the matter.
The court approved a motion to have the Courthouse Annex sprayed for pest control on a monthly basis.
A cell phone for Justice of the Peace Ann Kennedy was approved, and the court authorized the county paying for one-half of the cost of new shelving in the district attorney’s office with the DA paying the other half. The county owns that office building.
A letter authorizing a fire drill on lots 662 and 665 on Gary Drive in Howardwick was approved, and a resolution was passed supporting the state’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program.
The county budget was amended to allow the county clerk’s office to use office money for the salary of records management personnel.
The court also adopted a new employment policy requiring county offices to advertise employment opportunities for two weeks in the local newspaper. Employment notices will also be posted on the county bulletin board at the Courthouse Annex.
For more information about the Donley County Courthouse project, click here.
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