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News City and County Rains County meets with architect
News City and County Rains County meets with architect
| Rains County meets with architect |
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| Written by David Chenault |
| Tuesday, 23 June 2009 09:30 |
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Rains County Commissioners met with Jeffery Heffelfinger, president of Southwest Architects, to discuss the possibilities of the future of county offices,especially the former Heritage Center. The discussion became more tense when the array of options for the county was brought up, including the Arrington property, located downtown, which the county has considered purchasing. County Judge Joe Dougherty said he was frustrated with the whole discussion saying, "I'm not for or against the Arrington Building, but I'm not for anything until we get a definition of cost and purpose on it." "We've been in that position for a year," interjected Sisk. Dougherty retorted loudly, "You're not helping to move off of it." A few minutes later, a woman in the office stood and said, "I just want to say it's not a old tin building," Dougherty told the woman she was out of order and tried to guide the discussion back to the first agenda item. After a few more minutes of discussionm, the court agreed to begin the process of hiring a construction manager-agent by voting to advertise for the position. The court then discussed the Arrington building. Heffelfinger noted that the Arrington building could cost the county more than the purchase price due to an envirommental site assesment, an asbestoes survey, and the requirements to bring the complete building up to standards specifiec in the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA). Sisk moved to purchase the Arrington property subject to the environmental and ADA studies. Dougherty asked if Sisk intended to purchase the land as well. "Well, the land it sits on," said Sisk "So you don't have a legal description of the land? You don't know what you are getting," said Dougherty. Other commissioners offered thier comments until Sisk tried to reword the motion. Heffelfinger then offered the advice that court should direct the judge to offer the owner a contract and consult with the county's attorney. "I'm against it. I've said that from the start," said Dougherty. "I didn't see a sign out front went I drove by," said Heffelfinger. "I don't know that it is legally for sale unless it's advertised to the public." "Don't go there," said Sisk. Dougherty restated the motion and asked for a second which Commissioner Painter offered. Sisk, Painter, and Pasty Marshal voted in favor of the motion with Gary Bishop and Dougherty opposing the motion. "You've purchased something, but I don't know what," said Dougherty before recessing the court for a brief break.
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The county has been discussing possible options in repairing and using the Heritage Center or simply demolishing it for several weeks. Southwest Architects is being hired to look at three alternatives and offer a cost analysis for each and the option hiring a construction manager-agent to oversee the project was the first item on the meeting's agenda.