(Staff Photo/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Repairs on the Cotton Belt Roof are anticipated to come in under budget.

On Tuesday, the Smith County Commissioners Court approved entering into contract negotiations with S&S Roofing to repair and replace portions of the Cotton Belt’s roof.

In January, the court approved repairing two sections of the roof on the historic building, where residents for years have gone to pay their property taxes and renew auto registrations. 

Purchasing director Kim Gould told commissioners on Tuesday she anticipated the final cost will come in below $120,000.

That’s below the original estimates put forth by Dallas-based Wharry Engineering, which was commissioned to evaluate the roof condition and look for ways to improve it.

The firm estimated it would cost $182,000 for construction, plus another $11,830 in various design fees, bringing the total project to just less than $194,000.

The roof itself is made up of upper and lower decks. The lower deck is split into two sections – one on the north and another on the south side of the building. 

Both lower sections are in need of repair, but the north side will require more attention. Both sections are flat and have drains for rainwater. 

The current lower roof is made of a spray-on polyurethane foam, which was applied to the roof in 2001. 

The foam has a usable life of 10 years, which was met five years ago in 2011. 

In other business:

• Commissioners approved a resolution proclaiming June 4 as Powell Chapel Baptist Church Centennial Day,” in honor of the institution’s 100 anniversary.

• The county approved a resolution of support for the city of Tyler’s application to the Texas Commission on the Arts seeking to designate downtown Tyler as a state-recognized cultural district.

• Commissioners approved a professional exemption for Gollob, Morgan, Peddy P.C. to perform the county’s annual outside financial audit.

• A final grant application to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles was approved for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to possibly participate in the auto burglary and theft prevention program.

• A resolution of support was approved with the Texas Department of Transportation to accept the local equivalent match funds, where in-kind work done by Smith County counts toward the match on two bridge replacement projects. Those replacements include County Road of 2171 at Blackhawk Creek and at County Road 1113 at Butler Creek.

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