Commission approves courthouse parking addition, asks budget committee to identify up to $300,000 in funding

Houston County commissioners voted on Feb. 17 to add a parking facility to the new courthouse project to maintain ADA access and complete construction while excavation is underway, and directed the budget committee to identify funding sources up to $300,000.

Project staff and the mayor described the original contractor bid as roughly $366,000. The project representative said he and the contractor negotiated the price down to $299,750, a savings of about $67,000. The proposed work would add three handicapped/accessible spaces adjacent to the lower entrance and about six additional regular parking spaces.

Commissioners discussed funding options: staff noted roughly $25,000 could be freed from a recent settlement, the mayor said he would request GNRC (Greater Nashville Regional Council) assistance in Nashville, and one commissioner said the budget committee could piecemeal the remainder. To avoid remobilization costs later, staff urged moving forward while the contractor is on site.

Howard Spurgeon moved to proceed and to have the budget committee identify funding sources; the motion was seconded, the commission conducted a roll-call vote and the motion passed unanimously among recorded votes. The commission instructed staff to begin funding outreach the next day and said a detailed funding plan would return to the commission through the budget committee.