County officials vote to renovate Gatesville annex for new district court

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

 

The Coryell County commissioners recently took a big step toward preparing the county for the 440th District Court set to open on Jan. 1, 2017.

 

With space being an issue for county facilities, the commissioners voted on May 9 to approve a renovation to the 7th Street Annex in Gatesville to house the new court.

 

They voted 3-1 to approve spending as much as $135,000 to $160,000 to make the changes to that building, with a design estimate of $13,200 by RBDR.

 

The lone nay vote came from precinct 1 commissioner Jack Wall, who was in favor of waiting until it’s decided where the new district court will be located.

 

In March, the commissioners held a facilities planning workshop and one of the most immediate needs they discussed was making room for the new district court. During that discussion, commissioner Daren Moore said it would only temporarily address space issues and that the county should consider expanding across the street behind the vacant lot which the county purchased in 2014.

 

At that time, Wall said he didn’t disagree with a new building, but there was a 2011 bond issue put to the county voters, whether or not to build a jail facility.

 

Also related to future facilities planning, the commissioners okayed an agreement with Joseph Latteo, with Local Government Facilities Solutions, to provide facilities planning assessment for the county, to an include an inventory of the county’s facilities and equipment through September 30 as a trial run at no charge. Latteo has offered his paid services at a significant discount at a recent meeting of the Central Texas Council of Government. The commissioners have the option to renew the agreement effective October 1 for services.