By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Construction on the Ellis County Courthouse and the Law Enforcement Center continues to progress and is nearing completion.
Ellis County Commissioner and construction liaison Dean Haselhorst updated the commission on the progress at Monday’s meeting. The moving companies are set to begin moving offices back in the first week of January. Haselhorst said they have a potential date of Jan. 11 for the ribbon cutting and open house.
MW Builders and project superintendent Mike Wilson told the commission the carpet is almost completely installed and the ceiling installation is almost complete, as well.
The cleaning crew was set to begin working Monday night. Wilson said the crews will work at night to avoid interfering with construction crews. He added cleaning may be one of the biggest tasks left to complete.
Among the items remaining is the installation of the laundry equipment in the jail and security cameras throughout the building.
The commission approved $91,000 for the cameras and equipment and another $51,000 to increase the size of the gas line to the dryer and changes to the size of the water line.
The county changed from the initial two dryers and two washers to one of each. Wilson called the changed to accommodate the different equipment “extensive.”
In other business, the commission:
• Approved a snow removal contract with Flatlander Dirtworks.
• Heard a county health report from Health Administrator Butch Schlyler. He said they had two reports of a child with ecoli at a local daycare. He said, in both cases the child was removed from the daycare and they were not allowed back at the daycare until the children were clear.
• Allowed the county appraiser and EMS department to fill vacant positions.
• Interim Public Works Director Curt Hoffman informed the commission that Rooks County has agreed to half of the engineering, design and construction fees on the north county line bridge replacement. The counties will split 20-percent of the construction costs for approximately $58,000 each.
• Ellis County also received the first $600,000 payment from the Buckeye Wind Project. Commission Chairwoman Marcy McClelland said the wind farm went online in October.
• The commission held two separate executive sessions. The first was for union negotiations and the second was non-elected employee issues. No action was taken during either.