Commissioners Court Dec 2019

The county is moving ahead with two large facilities maintenance projects, but doing so for the price of one.

The Smith County Commissioners Court voted to approve beginning the process to replace the Smith County Jail generator and a full elevator replacement of one of the units at the Smith County Courthouse, during a special called meeting on Monday.

County officials said the bid came in much lower than expected for the generator, which would mean nearly the entire cost of the elevator replacement had already been set aside with that savings.

Facilities Services Director Edward Nichols said the county knew the generator would need to be replaced and had budgeted about $400,000, but when the job went out to bid it was able to secure a vendor for just $230,000.

Manufacturing the new generator will take about 20 weeks and a backup will be installed for the transition.

At the courthouse, the county will replace one of its two main elevators for $198,859. The county has been struggling with the elevators being out of service and maintaining them.

Nichols said the machinery likely dates to 1953, with controls being replaced around 2000.

The county is looking to replace only one at this time, as a bond for a new courthouse will be on the November 2020 ballot.

Nichols said when both elevators are down, courthouse employees have to use a service elevator to help visitors who need accommodations. At one point both elevators were down for more than a month, Nichols said.

The court also voted to ratify an agreement naming Dec. 21, 2019, as “Top Teens of America Rose City Chapter 50th Anniversary Day” in Smith County.