By Michael Pineda
The Carter County Commission followed suit with others across the county and state with a decision to close offices early in wake of an approaching winter storm.
Chairman Berry Lee-Brinkman made the suggestion the county close at noon Tuesday and assess weather conditions that evening and make a decision on Wednesday. He said it would be a smart decision for both employees and constituents.
“This also stops people from coming to the courthouse that would have to normally come there or required to be there,” he said. “Now we are not making our constituents travel in it as well.”
The commission planned to make a decision around 8 p.m., Tuesday evening. Work had already begun on the roads prior to the morning meeting, however.
“As far as the barns, I know we have our sanders set up and going,” he said. “We are actually working some intersections right now trying to get ahead of it.”
During the regular business portion of the meeting, the commission opened two bids to address floor repair at the Carter County Detention Center. A bid from LS Concrete Coatings, Inc., based out of Aubrey, Texas was in the amount of $57,355. A second bid from Imperial Epoxy Flooring, LLC out of McKinney, Texas was in the amount of $85,090.
The project will address floors in the kitchen, a corridor, inmate showers and the sally port. The agenda item was tabled to allow the commission additional time to have the bids assessed.
A service agreement with Guy Engineering in the amount of $31,388 was approved for a road resurfacing project on Red Cedar Road. The project will span from US Highway 70 to State Highway 199. Commissioner Joe David McReynolds said the project has an estimated cost of $1.5 million with the Chickasaw Nation contributing $500,000.
The commission approves a quote in the amount of $4,370 to have a 3,500-pumper tanker transported from Ohio. The commission approved the purchase of the tanker for the Sneed Volunteer Fire Department during a meeting on Feb. 10.
The commission continued to set the foundation for the project on Newport Road with the approval of four ODOT claim forms submitted by Mears Engineers, LLC, for right-of-way agreements.
During public comments, Agriculture/4-H Educator Stephanie Smith said the office has been busy working with county residents on soil samples and answering questions. The Junior Livestock Show will be next week at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum, and she encouraged people to come out and support the kids.
