Commissioners hear update on Smith County courthouse, parking garage

Published 5:45 am Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Architects and construction managers on Tuesday updated the Smith County Commissioners Court at its meeting on the status of the parking garage and courthouse project.

“It’s been exciting to watch this project go up,” Judge Neal Franklin said. “I tell everybody, they played in the dirt for about two months then all of a sudden it just took off. Watching that go up has really truly been something exciting.”

Despite over a month of weather-related disruptions, the five-story, 543-vehicle parking garage is on schedule to open in the fall of 2024, with a cost of $15.4 million.

Stephen Flournoy, Hoar Construction project executive and Brandy Ziegler, partner with Fitzpatrick Architects showed an updated time-lapse video, unforeseen challenges, pleasant surprises and the timeline for continued construction.

After several months of dirt work, and the removal of unexpected material, Flournoy said, the team was able to lay 1,250 yards on concrete during the wettest parts of the year. As of Monday, 458 of the 504 precast pieces have been set.

‘We’re very, very close at this point,” Flournoy said.

The $179 million Courthouse and Parking Garage Bond was passed by voters on November 8, 2022. Ziegler said the project is on time and under budget. In May 2022, the projected cost was $16.9 million, however the actual cost has been $15,399,74.

The remainder will go to the courthouse budget, which is currently $163,600,257.

As the parking structure is being built, design teams are finalizing plans for the courthouse in collaboration with more than 40 architects, engineers and consultants.

“We’ve been balancing safety and security, the functionality and efficacy of the courthouse,” Ziegler said. “All while balancing the quality and aesthetics of the building that we can all be proud of for the next 100 years, staying within that voter approved amount.”

In July demolition of the block of Spring Avenue properties, east of the current courthouse, is expected to begin. Phase 2 construction fencing will go up for the courthouse project. That is expected to take about two years and reach completion in the last summer of 2027.

The commissioners also adopted resolutions, appointed tax increment reinvestment zone board members and a deputy constable among other agenda items.

Commissioners also recognized an exceptional youth in the community.

May 14 was proclaimed, “Elizabeth Cater Day,” to honor the efforts of a local Girl Scout.

Carter was served with the distinction as a Gold Award Girl Scout for her Gold Award project called Red, White and BBQ. The project created a new barbecue cookout space for veterans at CampV. Carter assisted in fundraising and collecting donations of all the supplies for the outdoor kitchen, including a drawer storage system, grills, flat-top griddles, utensils, trash cans and more.

The resolution read that the distinction “requires leadership and a commitment to duty, which will help to build a better state and nation” for future citizens and generations to come.

“Cater gave presentations at various churches and other organizations throughout the community to promote awareness of the issues faced by veterans, such as mental health challenges and PTSD,” the resolution read. “She went above and beyond,”

The court also proclaimed May 20 through 24 as “Flood Awareness Week,” in Smith County. Each year the third week in May is set aside to bring awareness to the dangers of flooding.

Board members were appointed or reappointed to the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board (TIRZ) number 3 and 4 for a two-year term, to represent Smith County’s four seats for each zone.

Position 5 in TIRZ 3 was reappointed to Commissioner Pct. 4 Ralph Caraway Sr., position 6 was appointed to Franklin, position 7 was appointed to Carrie Perkins and position 8 was appointed to Joe Turner. Position 6 in TIRZ 4 was appointed to Casey Murphy and position 8 was appointed to Ed Nichols.

The court also confirmed the appointment of J.R. Smith as a Deputy Constable for the Smith County Constable Precinct 4 Office.

In other business, the court approved an interlocal agreement between Smith County and the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force, a claim for an accident involving a Sheriff’s vehicle and an engagement letter with Gollob, Morgan, Peddy PC for the 2024 audit services.