Court returning to courthouse

By Leia Jobe/reporter2@trcle.com

April 27, 2008 02:40 pm

— Johnson County commissioners will meet for the first time Monday in the restored Johnson County Courthouse.
“We’re extremely excited about that,” County Judge Roger Harmon said Friday. “It’s nice to have our old courtroom again. The way it’s set up is really going to be efficient for us. We don’t have to worry about someone else needing the courtroom, because this one is strictly for the commissioners court.”
The commissioners courtroom is on the second floor of the restored courthouse. During the courthouse’s two-year, $8 million restoration, the commissioners have met in courtrooms in the Guinn Justice Center.
Harmon said that although the room is reserved for the commissioners, the county could use it in the event of a high-profile trial.
During Monday’s meeting, commissioners will also discuss final expenses for the courthouse renovation.
Commissioners might discuss paying an additional expense for tile floor polishing after the square footage was incorrectly calculated, Harmon said.
“I don’t know if the court will approve that additional expense, but we’re going to discuss it,” Harmon said.
Neal Sitzes, vice president of construction for contractors Harrison Walker & Harper, will attend the meeting to discuss the expense with commissioners, Harmon said.
When county offices moved into the restored courthouse mid-month, the County Annex building offices on Main Street were vacated.
Several offices have expressed interest in moving into the county-owned building, Harmon said, including the public works office, the Texas AgriLife Extension office and the Information Systems and Services Department. Commissioners are set to discuss the possible expansion of these offices into the vacant space in the annex during a workshop session Monday, Harmon said.
The commissioners will also consider options for demolition or sale of a building previously used by Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties in the 1600 block of Anglin Street, Harmon said. The building is being sprayed for termites.
Also on the agenda for Monday is the possible purchase of burn ban signs from the Texas Department of Transportation. The signs would be placed at both ends of the major state roads coming into Johnson County to alert visitors and residents if a burn ban is in effect.
The county would purchase about six signs at inexpensive rates, Harmon said.
Commissioners will also consider the following:
zx A Statewide Automated Victim Notification System contract for 2009 between Johnson County and the attorney general’s office. The program gives victims and local governments access, through a toll-free statewide phone number, to information on offenders and court events.
zx A contract for management services with Gary R. Traylor & Associates Inc. for the Housing Opportunities Made Equal program, a grant administration and counseling service operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
zx An appointment to the corridor segment committees for Interstate 35W with the Texas Department of Transportation.
zx Moving parking spaces of the county’s adult probation vehicles from 116 Mill St. to the newly acquired parking at the Guinn Justice Center.
zx A right-of-way agreement between the county, Texas Midstream Gas Services LLC and Precinct 3.
zx Authorization to sign all the division orders the county will receive about gas leases that have been executed.
zx Current tax exemptions for Johnson County residents through the Central Appraisal District.
zx Awarding bids for roofing and waterproofing for the Johnson County Corrections Center.
zx Agreements with Grandview, Cresson and the North Central Texas Council of Governments for a solid-waste implementation grant project.
Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in Room 201 of the Johnson County Courthouse.