Thursday's Internet Edition, December 04, 2008.
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| COMMUNITY HELP- The City of Hamilton parks department has benefited recently from community work groups from the Woodman Unit at the Gatesville State Correctional Insti-tute. Above, workers clear brush from the dam at City Lake. Park Director Ryan Polster said, “The Parks Department would like to thank the Woodman Unit in Gatesville for the many hours of extra labor they put into our Hamilton parks system.” Photos by Ryan Polster |
Present for the meeting were commissioners Jim Boatwright, Mike Lewis, Jon Bonner and Dickie Clary. County Judge Randy Mills presided.
County Attorney Andy McMullen reviewed with commissioners the contract with Kleinfelder Professional Engineering Consultants to schedule and conduct geothermal investigations relating to the courthouse renovation project. The testing will cost approximately $6,000.
After hearing McMullen’s review of the contract, Clary said that he does not think Kleinfelder is taking enough responsibility in the contract. He said he is having a difficult time approving more and more tests for items on the renova-tion project that he feels the county is already certain of.
Mills said he trusts the ar-chitect and feels that the firm is looking out for the taxpayer’s interest.
McMullen said, “The archi-tect says we really need this and I recommend that we do it.”
McMullen said that he does not think the company will change their mind and take on any more responsibility than they have already agreed to.
“If Komatsu (the architect) is recommending them, they have confidence in the people,” Bonner said.
Bonner made the motion seconded by Lewis to approve the contract pending McMullen’s final contract modifications. The motion passed with Boatwright voting in favor. Clary opposed.
The court received a request from Elias Maldonado, pastor of Centro De Adoracion Y Alabanza to use the courthouse grounds for worship services.
In a letter to the court he wrote:
“I, Elias Maldonado, a pas-tor of Centro De Adoracion Y Alabanza, Inc, do hereby cer-tify that we would like to use the courthouse grounds to con-duct a praise and worship ser-vice.”
The letter stated that the church has locations in Brownwood, Comanche and Eastland as well as missions around Central Texas. He said they have also started a CAA mission in Hamilton.
The letter went on to say, “The use of the courthouse grounds would allow us to bring the word of God to the town of Hamilton. That is the sole purpose of us being here.”
McMullen said that if Maldonado wanted to have a one-time “happening,” that would not be a problem. How-ever, he explained that the fact that he wants a specific time when he would have exclusive use could create a problem with separation of church and state.
Boatwright asked Mills if the request was for a one-time event or permanent.
Mills said he didn’t know. “He is out of Brownwood. They are just wanting to get the message out as most churches do. It’s an admirable goal,” he said. “But Andy is recommend-ing that we deny the request as submitted.”
“We have allowed churches to hold meetings at Dove Festi-val time on Sunday mornings,” Boatwright said, stating that he has no problem with that type of meeting; however he agrees with McMullen if it is to be a permanent fixture.
Mills called for a motion re-garding the matter. Since none was made, no further action was taken on the item.
Rena Sliger was present as a representative of the Hamilton County Livestock Association. She asked the court for support in building a new livestock barn at Fair Park.
She said that the new build-ing will be for county-wide use and will cost approximately $100,000. She said the Live-stock Association has $10,000 in the bank and Hico has prom-ised $25,000 in support.
She told commissioners that Hamilton’s E.D.C. would be meeting with the Association tonight to tell them how much assistance would be able to offer.
Sliger said there are numer-ous fundraisers planned and it is hoped that the new building will be ready in time for the coming stock show.
To the court she said, “We’re going to need a little dirt, some crushed rock, maybe some help with tearing down the old barn. We’re not sure where we’re going to go with the old building.
“Monetarily, I know you’re pretty strapped, but I know you have trucks and dirt,” she said. “We would appreciate your help.”
Mills told Sliger the court will give the request the utmost consideration at budget time.
County Clerk Debbie Ru-dolph opened bids from Scott and White and First Care for Hamilton County health insur-ance. There was also a letter from TAC stating that they were not submitting a bid. County Treasurer Debbie Eoff prepared a comparison of the bids on a spread sheet for the commissioners’ examination. After reviewing the bids they decided to take action on the bids at a future meeting.
Commissioners approved bills in the amount of $429,570.06. They also consid-ered a burn ban for Hamilton County but decided it is not necessary to place one in effect at this time.
They also accepted county commissioners’ annual road reports and authorized a request to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for unclaimed capital credits received from electrical cooperatives for use under Chapter 381.004 Local Government Code to be used for the Hamilton Public Library Literacy Fund.