Commissioners approve 3-phase LEC roof issues

The Grimes County Commissioners Court held a Regular Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26, and approved an expenditure of $270,963.07 for roof repair, mold remediation and humidity control at the Grimes County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) on FM 149 West. Maintenance Manager Al Peeler described a three-phase process that consists of repairing the roof, removing mold and eliminating its return through the addition of humidity controls.

Peeler recommended accepting the $134,300 bid from Aggieland Roofers for the roof repairs and cited their favorable history of service after the sale with previous county projects. He also recommended accepting the $81,663.07 bid of Frontier Services, another company with county business history, for mold remediation. Peeler advised their bid will address everything in the mold report at the jail and administrative offices.

Moving on to phase three and a humidity control system, Peeler said of the LEC, “It’s a lot of concrete. It sweats. It (a control system) will allow the jail to stay at a constant 55%. It will also allow jail administrators to see what’s going on in their building.”

Peeler said that if approved, work could begin as soon as next week, to which county attorney Jon C. Fultz advised that the county may exercise the “discretionary exemption” for unforeseen damage to public property. This eliminates the lengthy competitive bidding process, expediting repairs. Judge Joe Fauth pointed to the emergency nature of the situation and closure of the law library due to the mold issue.

GCSO Chief Deputy Todd Greene said, “If we don’t fix this and fix this right, there will be some ramifications coming down from the State. There is a requirement that we have to keep these cells at certain temperature levels, and we’ve been struggling to do that.”

During a discussion about funding and funds available in various departmental budgets, Auditor Mary Nichols said, “The rest of it will have to come out of Fund Balance.”

Three apply for HR director

Commissioners approved a process for replacing the soon-to-be-retired Human Resource Director, Lucy Pope. At present, the job posting has been internal only and Christina Griffin in Elections Administration, Talita Coleman in the auditor’s office and Cinda Phelps from the treasurer’s office have applied for the position.

The consensus was that the applicants will be interviewed by all members of Commissioners Court.

Fauth said, “We are going to interview the three internal candidates, make a decision and if none are viable candidates, we will go to the outside world and ask for candidates.”

Burn ban:

No action taken, burn ban remains lifted.

Other court action:

•Approved consent agenda items that included the Treasurer’s list of claims and bills, payroll and the county treasurer’s monthly report for January 2020.

•Following a Special Meeting held before the Regular Meeting of Commissioners Court, approved replats in King Oaks subdivision Sections 1 and 3 combining and redesignating lots.

•Approved a request from Grimes County Child Welfare to partner with the City of Navasota and hold the Child Abuse Prevention Month presentation at the Navasota City Hall.

•Received an update on the Justice Center project and courthouse repairs.

•Approved the appointment of David Lilly, Todd Greene, Katherine Dornak, Jason Katkoski, Jessi Murphy and Neal Wendele to the Brazos Valley Homeland Security Advisory Committee.

•Approved a request from County Clerk Vanessa Burzynski to pay Data Preservation Solutions $11,836.50 to scan and preserve four original deed record books from the 1800s and various historical documents including one with Sam Houston’s signature.

•Approved a request form District Clerk Diane LeFlore to redistribute salary funds resulting from a staff resignation to employees who will be assuming those duties, without a change in departmental budget.

•Denied a request by R&B Engineer Harry Walker to redistribute salary funds resulting from staff retirement and resignation to remaining employees as merit raises. Per existing policy, merit raises require a performance evaluation and are addressed during the budget process.

•Approved a Resolution supporting a $340,000 grant application initiated by a third party for improvements at the 40-unit Navasota Landing Apartments on Laredo Street in Commissioner Barbara Walker’s precinct.

•Supported changes to make verbiage in online job postings consistent with the county policy manual.

•Approved Special Road Use and Indemnity Agreements for Century Concrete and Magnolia Energy for CR 304, CR 344, Joubert and Pavlock roads, and a Special Road Use permit for L.E. Meyers.

•Approved authorization for Road & Bridge to seek bids for culverts, flexible base, contract hauling, asphalt and emulsion to be used in the 2015 GLO-CD-BG grant project.

•Approved authorization for Road & Bridge to sell timber from cleanup of the right of way on CR 201, CR 201 Loop, CR 202 and in the Pinebrook and Shadow Lake subdivisions with funds from the sale returned to R&B budget.

•Received a Road & Bridge report from Engineer Harry Walker that included cleanup of downed trees, patched potholes, mowing, ditch work and culvert installations.

•Approved a Resolution requested by the Grimes Central Appraisal District for public resale March 3 of a mobile home acquired at a Delinquent Tax Sale and authorized the county judge as signatory.

•Reappointed Sheriff Don Sowell as a member of the board of trustees of the Mental Health & Retardation Authority of the Brazos Valley with a term beginning March 1, 2020 and ending Feb. 28, 2022.

•Approved updating Grimes County Regulations under Road & Bridge that are posted on the county website, specifically related to road use permits, and authorized the county judge as signatory.

•Approved adding entrance/exit access for the new Justice and Business Center from SH 90 in the amount of $295,000.

•Received an update from Commissioner Barbara Walker stating that ambulance service for Iola, Keith and King Oaks will be dispatched from CHI St. Joseph-College Station, essentially providing the county with five ambulances.