Committee hears updates on health department, animal shelter and Justice Center roof schedule

The Coffee County Capital Outlay Committee on June 4 heard a series of facilities and maintenance updates covering the Health Department, a new animal shelter, the Coffee County Library in Manchester, and upcoming Justice Center work.

Commissioner Terry Hershman reported that cleaning is underway throughout the Health Department facility, flooring is in place and a punch list is being completed. He told the committee that the new animal shelter is "100% complete" and that staff are moving in; closeout documents are being prepared. On the Coffee County Library in Manchester, Hershman said air handlers are being cleaned following an issue and that cleaning should be complete by the next day with a retest scheduled for the following week.

Separately, Director Rick Soucy provided a maintenance update: a new office built in the budget office's storage room has walls and sheetrock painted and is awaiting flooring; the Justice Center roof project is set to begin June 22 and is expected to last approximately six to eight weeks; and work on the old courthouse lighting is nearly complete but awaits a controller.

Commissioner Hershman also said he has been in contact with St. John Engineering about proposals for siting a new Justice Center, including a site in front of the new jail on Hillsboro Highway, and that he hopes to present options at the next meeting. The minutes do not record any public comment or final decisions on the Justice Center location. The committee scheduled its next meeting for July 2, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. and adjourned after routine business.