Coryell County officials cut ribbon for new justice center
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
On Thursday, Jan. 16, Coryell County officials welcomed the community to a ribbon cutting and open house for the newly constructed Leon Street Annex, located at 417 E. Leon St. in Gatesville.
The new building means changes for those who are summoned for jury duty.
Previously those reporting for jury duty would have to report to the Gatesville Civic Center. However, the new annex has ample parking on site and across the street for jury trials.
The facility includes a 120-seat district courtroom, jury box, bailiff space, courthouse holding cells, and a secure area where attorneys can meet with clients.
The new justice center was partly funded with $6 million of the county’s ARPA funding, as well as $1 million from broadband funding, and the project ended up with a guaranteed maximum price tag of just over $8 million.
During a brief ceremony prior to the open house, Coryell County Commissioner for Precinct 2, Scott Weddle, gave a few remarks.
Weddle was one of the county officials who worked as project leader.
Weddle told those who assembled outside the facility that this construction was the first new construction that the county has undertaken in Coryell County since 1991.
“Our best estimation, that’s 34 years, when Commissioner Basham was in junior high school,” Weddle joked.
He said that the construction project had two phases, the first of which was adding add 47 beds to the existing Coryell County Jail and also “modernize” it.
A bond for a brand-new jail facility failed with county voters back in 2021.
“It’s certainly not the most beautiful building, it doesn’t have columns, but it’s very functional,” Weddle said. “So I just want to make sure you guys knew that’s where the money also went.
“So the second project was the Leon Street Annex. This building is going to house the 440th District Court, with Honorable Judge Grant Kinsey presiding; the Justice of the Peace court, which would be Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Jim Caldwell; Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Coy Lytham; Constable Precinct 3, Jimmy Daniel; and Constable Precinct 4, Teddy Brock.
“We will also have the brand inspector Marvin Wills, and the game warden Adrian Navarro who also have offices in this new house.”
He also took a moment to recognize “those who have worked very hard on this”, to include the commissioners’ court, consisting of County Judge Roger Miller, Commissioner Kyle Matthews of Precinct 1, Commissioner Brian Basham of Precinct 3, and Commissioner Keith Taylor of Precinct 4.”
Weddle said that Basham was also the co-project lead for the county on the project.
The general contractor, or contractor manager at risk was Butler-Cohen.
Sean Butler, owner and president of Butler-Cohen was present, as well as Eric Cohen, as was project manager Josh Contreras, Deontay Taylor, and Bobby Rooms.
Weddle likewise recognized and thanked Jeff Heffelfinger with Southwest Architects.
He also thanked Coryell County’s Road & Bridge Department for constructing the parking lot and the building pad that the facility sits on.
“Our Road & Bridge Department did all of the dirt work. They prepped the pad. Not only was it great that our county folks were a part of the building of this, but it also saved the county a tremendous amount of money,” Weddle said. “It was fun coordinating with the contractor, and they were very willing to allow us to do that, and that was fantastic. So I’d like to recognize Justin Latham, our (road and bridge) administrator, and a special thank you to Chris Buster, who’s the superintendent who oversaw all the dirt work and the excavation, and I really appreciate our Road & Bridge Department for that.”
He also thanked the county auditor’s office, “because they kept the money flowing,” and the Gatesville Volunteer Fire Department, with Chief Billy Vaden who was very involved in the inspections and also providing advice on where to put the fire department connection.
He also named Gatesville Mayor Gary Chumley, City Manager Brad Hunt, the entire city council, and Miguel Gamez, who was the Inspector.
“(There was) minimal red tape, as (the contractor) has seen in many other places. And if we had a problem, they came out here and worked with our contractor and took care of it.”
Weddle concluded his remarks by thanking the citizens.
“Most importantly, I’d really like to thank the citizens of Coryell County. You know this wouldn’t be here, and I know it’s on your tax dollars. It’s on your back. And so I hope that you get an appreciation of what we were able to produce, that this building will stand for the next 50-75 years and function as a county building for that long.”
Weddle said that the county intends to fully occupy the building by the first week or so in February.
Prior to cutting the ribbon, Coryell County Sheriff’s deputies raised both the United States and Texas flags. Butler Cohen provided free coffee and refreshments via Traveling Tom’s Coffee on Thursday, that visitors enjoyed after touring the new building.