County favors quick action on musty problem

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County favors quick action on musty problem

LAREDO MORNING TIMES,TX*

By JULIAN AGUILAR

10/10/2007

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=18901574 & BRD=2290 & PAG=461 & dept_id=569392 & rfi=6

The estimated cost to rid the Webb County Commissioners Courthouse

of the mold and mildew that recently prompted the city's Health

Department to recommend state officials assess the problem may be as

high as $483,000.The court, faced with uncertainty as to where the

funds would come from and when they would be available, voted to

table an item that sought to award a contract to rid the building of

the mold.

" I just hope that we do this rather quickly, " Commissioner Jerry

Garza said. " There are people that are sensitive to this issue. "

County Auditor Leo told the court it would have to wait until

the books for the 2006 fiscal year were closed to determine how much

of a surplus the county had in its budget after collecting final

revenues. The court then decided to postpone awarding the contract.

said he anticipated having between a $2 million to $3 million

surplus, some of which could be used for the cleaning and various

other building projects.

The county's purchasing agent said the cost could be reduced to

about $345,000 if the county elected not to install a dehumidifier

in the building's HVAC system. The system would prevent moist air

from circulating inside the building, possibly causing a

reoccurrence of the problem. Both options would include services to

clean the building, reseal the roof, cracks, mortar and concrete

weather-stripping.

The court also approved agenda items that would pave the way for

rural residents to receive water, streetlights and roads. An agenda

item requested by Pct. 1 Commissioner Sciaraffa that sought to

construct a county road in La Presa subdivision and another to

install streetlights in El Cenizo passed unanimously. An item

requested by Pct. 2 Commissioner ura " Wawi " Tijerina to award a

contract to C.G. Construction to install house-to-line connections

in the Tanquecitos colonia also passed. The court also approved the

payment of more than $8,000 to the City of Laredo to connect eight

water lines to houses in the same colonia.

Following a discussion concerning the specific duties of Justice of

the Peace Juvenile Court Coordinators in the United Independent

School District, an item that sought to approve county funds for

partial payment of three court coordinator salaries was tabled.

Sciaraffa told the court he would like to see the coordinators take

a more proactive approach and remain on school campuses until they

were needed in the courts in the afternoons. He added that some

weeks there was no court scheduled and the time could be used in a

more hands-on capacity.

The court also voted to obtain the services of , Bass and

Associates in its civil suit involving Killam Ranch Properties. and

the sale of the former detention center. County Attorney Homero

said the law firm was well suited to handle the case because

of its prior involvement in a similar case that was recently deemed

a non-suit. A new suit has since been filed. The court discussed the

matter in executive session and voted to retain the services.

Commissioner " Keko " ez abstained from voting.

The court also tabled an item that sought to enter into third-party

funding contracts with 44 nonprofit organizations. said the

county needed to make certain all the organizations were still

legally in existence. The organizations must also be registered as

nonprofit entities with the Texas Secretary of State.

The court also voted to halt further appraisals of Cuatro Vientos

parcels after it was determined that TxDOT officials would not be

able to tell the county about additional funding for the road

project before the appraisals expired. Interim County Engineer Mike

Cabello said the appraisals, which are valid for 30 days, should

begin again in January.

The court also voted to award a contract to Swisher and

Realty in hopes that the company can sell the former juvenile

detention center. The property's estimated value is $1.7 million but

to date, only one party has expressed an interest in viewing the

property at 1300 Chicago Street.

(n Aguilar can be reached at 728-2557 or at

jaguilar@...)