County projects near completion

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Two ongoing construction projects undertaken by Caldwell County in 2008 are coming to a close, Commissioners reported this week. The Caldwell County Judicial Center, Justice Precinct 3 Offices and the Caldwell County Jail are all expected to be complete in the near future.

During a brief meeting of the Caldwell County

Commissioners’ Court on Monday, Commissioner Joe Roland said the remodeling project at the Caldwell County Judicial Center is moving forward at a steady pace.

“They have done the framing and blew in the insulation on Saturday,” he said. “The electricity is in place and the air conditioning duct work is ready.”

Roland also said the contractors made changes to the original bid with regard to the stucco to be installed outside the building, but the changes were expected to cost around $700 less than the bid originally called for.

He said he had been on the job site each day that workers were present, and committed to keeping the rest of the Court up to date on the progress as the job goes forward.

Commissioner Neto Madrigal then offered an update on the construction of the new office and courtroom for Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mary Alice Llanas and her staff.

“The renovation has cost us $10,587.33 so far, and may be done and ready to occupy at the end of this month or the first part of next,” he said.

One of the major holdups in progress, Madrigal said, was the availability of labor resources. The Caldwell County Maintenance Department has been using convict labor from the Caldwell County Jail for much of the project.

In brief news:
The Commissioners voted unanimously to keep an outdoor burning ban in place.

County Judge HT Wright informed the Court that the Texas Department of Transportation had agreed to take responsibility for maintenance of FM 1386. The County took responsibility for the road as part of a trade agreement with TxDOT that saved the County from purchasing right-of-way for State Highway 130. Wright said TxDOT’s reclamation of FM 1386 would not impact the right-of-way agreement.

The Court approved a proclamation honoring Lockhart resident Lonie Brite on her 102nd birthday.

The County paid bills in the amount of $67,453.61, which includes $6,085 in indigent legal defense.

The Caldwell County Commissioners meet on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse.