Commissioners address additional courthouse repairs at Monday meeting
-posted Monday, February 27, 2012

The Terry County Commissioners approved a nearly $400,000 expenditure on unexpected courthouse renovations during their regularly-scheduled meeting Monday morning at the Brownfield City Council Chambers.

The commissioners heard a report from Joe Grimes of Grimes and Associates in Wolfforth about the various unforeseen projects, which include further extensive repairs on the district courtroom as well as various structural repairs and replacement of sewer pipes that have worn out through years of service.

“We knew there would be some more work that needed to be done that you can’t see without tearing into it,” County Judge Butch Wagner said Monday afternoon. “We were prepared for it, because you go into a project hoping everything goes as planned, but most of the time there are going to be things that are wrong that you can’t see.”

The District Courtroom project comes at a cost of $270,000 and includes installing acoustic tile and light fixtures, upgrading the sound system.

The report from Grimes noted that “when the existing ceiling and carpet were removed and the impressive features of the courtroom were revealed – the marble floors, tall ceilings, pediments over the doorways and the substantial plaster trim and beam work – they prompted us to research what could be done to return the courtroom to its original grandeur. “

Some of the project involved the acoustics of the courtroom once the carpet was removed. The excess reverberation that comes with a marble floor would be minimized by installing hanging speakers. The project also includes updating the current sound system,

In addition, the plan includes upgrading the lighting to more effective lighting fixtures. However, there will also be a few “historic-looking” hanging lights.

Other major aspects of the additional renovations include structural repairs ($51,451.34) and replacing the damaged main sewer piping. The total estimated cost of the renovations is $392,815.46. That will up the total cost of the courthouse renovations to approximately $3.6 million.

Wagner noted that there would have been ways to cut corners, but he felt the renovations needed to be done sufficiently so that future repairs wouldn’t be necessary.

“I think if we’re going to have to do it, we need to go ahead and get it done the right way so we don’t have to go back a few years from now and do it over again,” he said.

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Terry County Commissioners Court approved to post notices at the Terry County Annex,  507 W. Main (Old Bayless building) during the renovation period.

Terry County Commissioners Court approved to have Foreclosure Sales at the Terry County Law Enforcement Center, 1311  Tahoka Road

Terry County Probate and Guardianship Hearings will be held at the American Legion Hall – 800 Seagraves Rd.

Terry County Grand Jury will be held  in the City Council Chambers at the Brownfield City Hall

Terry County Court and District Court will be held at the Municipal Courtroom at the Brownfield City Hall

District Clerk’s Office

• Open in new temporary location:  American Legion Hall – 800 Seagraves Rd.
• Phone numbers and mailing address have not changed.

County Clerk’s Office

• Open in new temporary location: American Legion Hall – 800 Seagraves Rd.
• Phone numbers and mailing address have not changed.

Justice of the Peace Office

• Open in new temporary location:  Annex 507 W Main (in old Bayless Building)
• Phone numbers and mailing address have not changed.