A rendering shows the planned Smith County Courthouse and parking garage. (Contributed Photo)

Smith County Commissioners Court approved a maximum price amendment to the contract with Hoar Construction, LLC for Phase I of the parking garage project during the Oct. 17 meeting.

“The guaranteed maximum price is listed at $14,570,271,” County Judge Neal Franklin said. “Phase 1 of the bond election is on schedule and budget.”

Hoar Construction, LLC was awarded the Construction Manager-at-Risk contract to build the new courthouse and parking structure on June 27. This amendment is to fund Phase I of the project, which is the parking structure.

Hoar Construction advertised and bid out individual work packages for all work needed to complete the demolition, site prep and construction of the five-level, approximately 570-car parking garage.

In addition, the parking garage will include two elevators, an elevator machine room, an electrical room, a storage room, four information technology closets, the demolition of existing structures and parking lots, the relocation of existing underground utilities, new utility tie-ins and more.

Construction is set to start at the end of October, and completion is projected for Aug. 30, 2024.

The commissioners approved an order authorizing the fiscal year 2024 collection of a mandatory payment under the Local Provider Participation Fund (LPPF) per the Texas Health and Safety Code.

Smith County LPPF rate was set at 6%, the same as last year’s rate. The Smith County LPPF is the statutory mechanism allowing local nonpublic private hospitals to access federal funding to recover uncompensated care costs each year.

Smith County collects the mandatory payment from the participating hospitals. In return, the participating hospitals receive federal matching funds to offset the costs of providing federally mandated care.

In other business:

Commissioners approved a resolution from the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texans Feeding Texans: Home Delivered Meal Grant Program for FY24 Meals on Wheels Ministry grant funding.

Commissioners approved the resolution in support of the Office of the Governor, Border Prosecution Unit Grant.

Commissioners also approved the reclassification for vacant position #2 in the Fire Marshal’s office from Chief Deputy Fire Marshal to Deputy Fire Marshal.