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Robertson magistrates busy with construction, repair projects
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By WENDY MITCHELL, Staff Writer
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MOUNT OLIVET -- With two construction projects nearing completion, one building under consideration for sale needing repairs and one on hold, Robertson County magistrates had a variety of issues to address during their meeting, Friday.
Facing a possible future disposal of the building housing the Cooperative Extension Office, Soil Conservation Office and a pizza parlor, magistrates heard a request from the operator of the pizza parlor, Paul Tabor, to have broken windows on the building fixed. According to Tabor, when it rains water enters the building and runs across the floor of the dining area.
After a few minutes of discussion, the court agreed to allow Tabor to repair the windows, with a rent credit of up to $1,100, or the court would have them fixed at the same cost.
Sale of the building is a possibility. According to the court, the reversion clause on the old library building, which also houses Mount Olivet City offices, should be taking place soon. It would return the property to county ownership. Because the county is required to provide office space for the Extension Service and Soil Conservation officer, parts of the old library building may be their new homes, with the city offices remaining where they are, Judge-Executive Billy "Hammer" Allison said.
A request to have the county create hallways and walled offices in the old library to accommodate the agencies was not considered necessary.
"I don't want the building chopped up," said Magistrate Diane Poe.
Suggestions were made to offer the agencies use of the building, but magistrates recommended portable office dividers to create an office atmosphere from the open spaces.
A repair project dating back to the 1997 flood is nearing completion, said David Carmack, road supervisor. Also in attendance at the meeting was John Grouse, owner of the property affected by the Hieatt Bottom Road failure. He asked for repair crews to give the rails driven in the ground to support the roadway a neater appearance, something Carmack said was in the plans for cooler weather.
Blacktopping may be done in the near future which will hopefully abate the problem of heaving portions of the road, which is on a steep grade, Carmack said.
Community Center and Firehouse construction is apparently ahead of expected schedule, said Kevin Cornett of Buffalo Trace Area Development District, which is overseeing the project.
To come in under the $249,000 budget for the building, the alternative design was chosen which gave more space, but fewer frills, Cornett said.
Magistrates spent nearly half an hour trying to decide whether to have a contractor do portions of the project not covered in the contract, such as interior painting and kitchen installation, or to hold a volunteer fueled painting party to cut costs.
County workers could install the necessary blacktopping for handicapped parking at the center, Carmack said.
"I don't like to paint, but I will for this," said Karen Curtis, fiscal court secretary and PVA officer.
Cornett said he would check on possible alternatives.
Construction interruptions, costs and the bureaucratic nature of negotiations involved in getting the new courthouse annex built drew a sterner tone from magistrates.
"It's frustrating," said Magistrate Larry Jones. "Anyone from around here could have built a nice building for a third of what they are charging."
Unforeseen problems have arisen, in addition to the shaking of the old courthouse, Allison said. Right of way permission from a property neighboring the construction site had been an oral agreement with a man who has since died. Permission had to be renegotiated with the widow before construction machinery could be placed on her property.
"She will be getting a nice fence, which is what she wanted," Allison said.
A gas line is also on the site, which needs to be moved at the expense of the county and a cost of $20,000 was mentioned as what the construction company handling the stabilization of the old courthouse wanted to remove pigeon droppings from the cupola before it would begin the work.
Allison jokingly offered to remove the droppings himself for that kind of money.
"There is no telling what money (designated contractors) have gotten off the state for building these courthouses," Poe said.
A meeting with Administrative Office of Courts officials is scheduled for 1 p.m., July 21, Allison said.
The court also approved including county clerk employee Joanie Jolly in the county retirement plan, effective from the date of her hire. This was a change from the practice of not counting the probationary time of 180 days county workers have been subjected to in the past toward days on the job for retirement purposes.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 276. |
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xxxxxxxxx wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:55 PM: " With gas prices the way they currently are; are we going to continue to pay for the sheriff to drive his new fancy ride to play golf and personal outings? "
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