By PAUL STONE
The Palestine Herald
June 22, 2009 08:53 pm
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Anderson County commissioners heard an update Monday from Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenneth Dickson concerning his research into the county’s storage needs and a potential facility.
Dickson has been designated by his fellow commissioners to research options available to the county to address its growing storage needs.
First of all, Dickson said Monday that he wanted to clear up some misconceptions about the county’s storage needs.
“It is a storage facility for paper documents and not equipment,” said Dickson, adding some county residents had posed questions concerning whether heavy and other equipment would be stored in the facility.
Anderson County currently owns a 4,956 square foot facility on North Mallard Street which is among the county’s options.
“It has all the things we need except for a little remodeling,” Dickson said.
Anderson County Judge Linda Bostick Ray said the North Mallard Street facility has had its roof replaced within the last five years.
Meanwhile, Dickson said he had received a bid from an East Texas vendor to construct a new 5,000 square foot metal building at a cost of $59,900. When an air conditioning system, shelfing and other needs are added, however, the commissioner said he believed the total cost of a new building may reach $200,000.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Joe Chaffin expressed his desire to go the route of a new building, indicating it would provide a better long-term solution.
“Three or four years down the road, we’re going to be doing the same thing if we’re not careful,” Chaffin said in open court.
Dickson, however, expressed his opinion that the county should perhaps look more closely at utilizing the existing building.
“I would like to concentrate more time on the building we already have,” Dickson said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Rashad Q. Mims I asked Dickson to obtain estimates on remodeling the North Mallard Street building.
At the conclusion of the item’s discussion, Dickson and other commissioners agreed that he would continue to research both options -- the construction of a new building and the utilization of the current building on North Mallard Street.
Dickson is expected to address commissioners again at the court’s next regular meeting early next month.
In other business Monday, the court also:
* APPROVED budget amendments.
* APPROVED bills.
* APPROVED utilities crossing CR 118 and CR 2933.
* HEARD from Joan Strominger, Champions for Children Inc., in regards to county funding for 2010 budget.
* HEARD from Susan Erwin, East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in regards to county funding for 2010 budget.
* HEARD from Frank Fulgham, president of the Sanctuary House, concerning financial support for the Sanctuary House.
* FAILED to take action on allowing Grace Bible Church to use the Courthouse Annex parking lot for a garage sale on July 25, 2009.
* AUTHORIZED county judge to sign quitclaim deed to the City of Palestine for the Transfer Station property (Transfer Station Tract 2.294 acres).
* APPROVED renewing contract with SWICO Auctions for one year.
* RESCINDED motion made on May 11, 2009 pertaining to the upgrade on computer license for Local Government Solutions software for county clerk’s office.
* APPROVED one-year contract with NETPLEA to collect fines on outstanding warrants in precinct 2 justice of the peace court.
* APPROVED contract with Ramona Hickman to purchase gravel from Anderson County at $2 per yard.
* APPROVED transfer of precinct 1 road & bridge employee James Young to precinct 2 road & bridge department at an annual salary of $30,200.
* APPROVED purchase of water truck for precinct 2 road & bridge department.
* APPROVED donation of gravel to precinct 2 road & bridge department.
* APPROVED $7,500 payment to Tyler Technologies for programming costs associated with importing Appraisal District data.
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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com
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