Commissioners move ahead with plans for new Precinct 4 building

n By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

 

The Milam County Commissioners Court is moving along with construction of a new building in Thorndale for the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace.

The court appointed a committee consisting of Commissioners Donald Shuffield and Jeff Muegge and Precinct 4 JP Gary Northcott to study the bids for a new building for JP Pct 4 and report recommendations back to the Court during its meeting on April 24.

The court opened bids from three contractors for the project during the meeting: Ronnie Dorner of Cameron, bid $194,810; Richter Bros. of Thorndale, bid $275,570; and MRI of Thorndale, bid $298,850.

The county decided to proceed with options for a new facility earlier this year. The facility will be build on land the county already owned in downtown Thorndale. Shuffield and Muegge met with Thorndale City Council members earlier this month to discuss the façade of the building and ask for a lease of three feet on Salty Street for as long as the county owns the building. 

During the meeting the Milam County Historical Commission presented the court with the “The Bridges of Milam County” book, which was dedicated to the commissioners.

The Milam County Historical Commission President Lynn Young and Geri Burnett presented the Commissioners Court and former county judge Frank Summers with a book.

Author Dr. Lucile Estell gave a brief talk about the book and told the court that the commission appreciates all they do for preservation in the county.

In other business the court: approved the appointment of Michelle Morgan to the Milam County TRIAD’s SALT Council; accepted a certificate from the Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice Center’s Certificate for Newly Elected Constables for Pct. 4 Constable Michael Moehling; Accepted a bid from Classic Bank to become the bank depository for the county for two years; approved the sale of surplus equipment through Kennedy Auction;  granted permission to advertise for bids for two dump trucks; and awarded the bid for two John Deere Tractors 2017 5199E from Coufal Prater in Cameron for Precinct 2.