(Credit: Williamson County)
On Tuesday, the Williamson County Commissioners Court allocated approximately $2.8 million for capital improvement projects. The Commissioners Court had a total of $18,469,224 to allocate toward capital requests or requests that are outside of what is needed for normal maintenance and operation during this fiscal year. Approximately $13 million of that amount already had been allocated. Approximately $2.395 million remains unallocated for future items that may need to be addressed before the end of the fiscal year.
The Commissioners Court approved $2.5 million for a remodel of the Justice Center, located at 405 MLK in Georgetown. Commissioner Cynthia Long agreed to lead a team of elected officials to discuss the scope and specifics of the improvements from a list of requested items. The team was requested to have their recommendations finalized by July 1.
Part of that money will be spent on improvements recommended from a security assessment being conducted by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The Commissioners Court approved the agreement today with NCSC for $23,350 at the request of the district judges, district attorney, county attorney, district clerk and county clerk.
“The Justice Center is a place for people from hard places. This building sees the worst life has to offer. This building sees people living in fear, desperate, and emotional. Oftentimes, this is the worst day of their life,” stated District Judge Betsy Lambeth of the 425th District. “The last thing we want is for people to come into his building and be victims of violence.”
Judge Lambeth said the security assessment is needed for everybody who walks through that door including people serving on jury duty, employees, and citizens conducting business.
“We average 1,000 people a day through that building,” added County Judge Bill Gravell. “I don’t know of another county building that has that volume.”
In addition, the Commissioners Court approved $250,000 for improvements to the Sheriff’s Office and jail. Another $250,000 was set aside for repair of a gas line to the historic courthouse. The Court gave $50,000 for an assessment of the county’s parking garage at Fourth and Rock streets.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles and Senior Director of Emergency Services Chris Connealy were requested to review the current location of the Taylor EMS Station and to make a recommendation to the Court by July 1. A specific dollar amount was not identified for this capital improvement project.
