By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Beginning this week, the public will not be allowed at either the Ellis County courthouse, Law Enforcement Center or the Emergency Services building construction sites for a period of time to allow the contractors to work on the projects without interruption.

During Tuesday evening’s Public Building Commission meeting, Ellis County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said Commercial Builders, the contractor on the EMS project, has requested public access to the building be cut off for the next 15 days.

“They have too many people stopping by for tours, taking up people’s time,” he said.

At this time, the county expects to take over the building on Oct. 13 with the ribbon-cutting Oct. 27.

Public access will also be cut off for the next 30 days at the courthouse, Law Enforcement Center and jail. MW Builders and project superintendent Mike Wilson asked for the move to allow his contractors to work without interruption.

Haselhorst said there have been county employees bypassing him and going to straight to Wilson, asking him to make changes because Haselhorst said he has been telling people no.

“They think they can go to Mike and he will give them the ‘yes’ word,” Haselhost said. “Mike has told these individuals they have to go through me from now on.”

According to Haselhorst, one area where there has been employees requesting changes is the break room of the county attorney’s office. Haselhorst said they were told if they want more changes, they would have to pay for them out of the department’s budget — and they agreed.

To which Commissioner Barb Wasinger asked, “I thought that budget was super-tight?”

Haselhorst said, it appears many of the county department budget are not as tight as previously portrayed, adding, “I’m the bad guy, which I really don’t care.”

The contract said the county has a set a tentative date of Nov. 1 to begin housing a few prisoners in the jail. Wilson said they hope to have to project complete by Dec. 24.