Commissioners approve $60,002 courthouse step waterproofing; county reports renovation progress

Wichita County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a $60,002 proposal from T.W. Hicks to waterproof all three sets of exterior courthouse steps and heard updates on other courthouse renovation and annex moves.

The T.W. Hicks work covers the east, west and main steps, includes filling hand‑rail holes and applying a sand‑grit top finish designed to improve slip resistance, and will remove the center handrail with temporary stanchions used for traffic control during the work. County staff said the product is used elsewhere in county facilities and has held up well to foot traffic; the contractor provides a standard one‑year warranty. The court directed payment from Department 510 and approved the motion by a 5‑0 vote.

Facilities staff (Rick) and other county staff reported that the Iowa Park annex move was completed and that offices are being connected — including the state connection and web/fire patches — and that a county security project will start with work beginning on the courthouse first floor. Staff warned that some finishing work and moving details remain and asked offices to coordinate schedules for the security work.

The court also tabled a separate item involving repairs to a county employee vehicle resulting from damage by a county‑owned vehicle because required pre‑posting steps could not be completed in time to discuss the item. No additional contract awards for major renovation work were approved during the meeting; staff said more offices will be notified about schedules for the security project.