Jail Inspection Finally Set November 28

The resignation of longtime Precinct 3 commissioner Jimmy Brooks was accepted and Lanham Martin sworn in during the first part of the session.

Brooks, who was already planning to retire at the end of his current term on Dec. 31, submitted his resignation early. Martin won the primary election for the position earlier this year and was officially approved during the Nov. 6 general election.

He is the second new commissioner to be sworn in ahead of schedule.

Steve Riley, who defeated incumbent Precinct 1 commissioner David Everett, took office in September after Everett resigned to take another job.

LEC Inspection
The formal inspection of the LEC by the state jail commission is set for Wednesday, Nov. 28, according to commissioners Stan West and Larry Cauble. It was also announced that an open house is planned for the public on that Friday, Nov. 30.

West reported that he had been contacted by architect Jeff Heffelfinger about several proposed change orders that had not yet been approved, including three for dumpsters during construction, and one for the overhead door in the sally port.

The commissioner stated that an employee of Southwest Architects had mistakenly approved a 1214 hole for the door when it was supposed to be 1212. The difference in the cost of the doors was $2,900.

The issue first came up in early September, and the court decided at that time not to approve the change order.

"That mistake should be on the architect," said West.

Also, the county had agreed to pay separately for dumpsters during the tear-down phase of the Precinct 1 barn and shop where the LEC is located.

However, according to West, the dumpsters utilized during the actual construction should be taken out of the contractor's line item designated for disposal rather than being paid for by the county.

The three separate change order requests concerning trash disposal total about $2,400.

The commissioners agreed to reject all four change orders.

Use of Old Jail
Justice of the Peace James Breeden told commissioners that he would like to move his office to the first floor of the old jail building.

West remarked that the window situation should be resolved before the two-story structure is used for anything.

Breeden agreed, stating, "I just want to get my name in the hat. I need more room."

He added that a representative of the Department of Motor Vehicles (drivers licenses) had told him that they would return to Albany one day a week if there was office space for them to leave their equipment set up.

County judge Ross Montgomery said that he would get in touch with the Historical Commission again about possible window repairs and would report at the next meeting.