Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
expected to begin this summer
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| COURTHOUSE RENOVATION KICK-OFF – Hamilton County Commissioners met with representatives from the Texas Historical Commission and Komatsu Architecture Friday morning to discuss plans for the courthouse renovation. The county has recently received a partial grant of $2,250,000 for the project. Although the original request was for $5,600,000, the partial grant will be enough to cover renovation of the exterior of the building. THC representatives assured the court that they intend to award the rest of the grant as soon as they are able. Pictured are (back, l-r) Gordon Marchant, project manager, Kelli Dilday, architect; Debbie Rudolph, County Clerk, Mike Lewis, Jon Bonner, and Jim Boatwright, commissioners. (Front, l-r) Karl Komatsu, owner of Komatsu Architecture; Amy Lambert, THC representative, Sharon Fleming, THC architect, Randy Mills, Hamilton County Judge and Dickie Clary, commissioner. Staff Photo |
During the meeting, commissioners were assured and reassured that Hamilton County will be at the top of the list when the next round of grants is awarded.
Hamilton County commissioners Jim Boatwright, Mike Lewis, Jon Bonner and Dickie Clary were all present as well as County Judge Randy Mills.
Officials from the Texas Historical Commission who attended the meeting were Sharon Fleming and Amy Lambert. From Komatsu Architecture were Gordon Marchant, Kelli Dilday and Karl Komatsu.
“On behalf of the court, we’re delighted you’re here, delighted we got the grant and we want to welcome you in any way we can,” said Mills.
Komatsu also told THC representatives that Hamilton County is grateful to be the recipient of their grant.
“We gave you a partial grant not because we wanted to,” said Fleming. “The problem was that we couldn’t stretch our funding as far as we wanted.”
“The commission wanted you to be doing something and not sitting on your plans for another two years,” she went on. “Assuming there is funding for the program, it would be our intention to make you the highest priority in the next round of funding.”
Fleming said that the THC will contribute $2,250,000 toward the project in this round of funding and the local match will be $397,058.
“They wouldn’t give you this part of the funding if they didn’t expect to do the rest,” Komatsu said.
He acknowledged the court’s earlier preference to install the cupola during phase two of the project. The cupola, which was a part of the courthouse for only a short time in the 1930s, is required by the THC to be a part of the project; however it has been a matter of controversy among the court and some members of the community. According to some long-time residents, the cupola was installed on the courthouse, but was removed because it was unattractive and didn’t “fit” the look of the building.
Komatsu advised the court that it would be best to go ahead with installation of the cupola during Phase I, the exterior phase, of the project to avoid having to disturb completed projects later to add the cupola.
“We can put it off or do it now,” Bonner said. “It has to be done.”
Marchant, an architect with Komatsu Architecture and Hamilton’s project manager, said that there is more than enough money available to complete the exterior of the building with the grant money that has been awarded.
Lewis asked, “Are we going to have to move out during Phase I?”
Komatsu answered that it will not be necessary for courthouse employees to move out of the building during the first phase of the project, however there will be some inconveniences when construction begins.
Bonner pointed out that some projects will require disturbing asbestos. “I have reservations about tearing into these while people are working here,” he said.
Komatsu said that decisions about various projects can be made and safety guidelines will be strictly adhered to.
Komatsu pointed out that the county will have to decide how the project will be managed. He said that a construction manager at risk might give the county more input and control over the project than simply taking the low bid.
Fleming reviewed the project manual with the court and answered questions as they arose.
She said someone from the THC will be assigned to work with Hamilton County throughout the project.
According to Komatsu, construction will probably begin in July and last about 16-18 months.
Fleming said that the next round of grant awards will happen in 20 months.
Komatsu said that there should be no overlapping of the two phases of the project and Fleming said the commission will accept Hamilton County’s grant application even if Phase I is not entirely complete.
“We want to give you the next award as soon as we are able to,” she said.