Courthouse annex now open
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

One of the new courtrooms in the annex revealed at the official opening of the courthouse annex.

The new $3.56 million annex to the Clarke County Courthouse was officially opened Monday morning. The annex features two new courtrooms, chambers and offices for two circuit judges, a new office for the county commission chairman and an extra office as well as space that can be developed in the future.

"It's been a long project," County Commission Chairman Joe Hunt said at the ribbon cutting ceremony, "and an expensive project, but we've gotten there. I would like to thank everyone who participated and…thank the committee that participated in putting this project together."

"I think we have a very fine building that will meet the needs of the citizens of this county for many years to come," said retired Circuit Judge Harold Crow, who was instrumental in pushing for the addition before he retired.

Commissioners met for the first time in their new meeting space in the new building Monday. They had been meeting in a basement meeting room since being displaced from their old meeting room due to the construction.

Flooding problems looked at

The county is requesting bids for contract work to solving flooding problems at the county courthouse. Heavy rains a few weeks ago caused flooding, said County Engineer Sam Noble.

Windows will be bricked up at the Registrars office in the back area of the courthouse, he said. Work will be done to deflect water runoff from the roof. In addition, on the South wing, a new larger curb will be built and make sure the drain line is opened better.

The cost of construction work will cost between $8,000 and $10,000, Noble said. The bids will be received at 9:15 a.m. on Aug 13.

Commissioner Paul Bradford asked if the county had enough money in the fiscal 2007 budget to handle the flooding problems. The commission recently postponed work on the Board of Education building until the fiscal 2008 budget. County Administrator Annie Deloise Morris said the county had enough money for the courthouse repairs.

Other business

Other business attended to Monday and Tuesday:

• Bids for the courthouse Air Handler units will be rebid for a 9:15 a.m. deadline on July 23.

• The commission approved two nominations for the state Equalization Board: Catherine Gaddy and Joe Merida.

• The commission will allow the sheriff to fill the following vacancies: part-time nurse at the County Jail and part-time Paper Server for the Sheriff's Department.

• The commission will allow E-911 to hire another part-time employee.

• Engineer Sam Noble requested that laborer Quentin Owes be taken off six-month probationary status and placed in permanent status with a 50- cent an hour increase. The Road and Bridge Department is also currently interviewing for an Equipment Operator 3.

• The commission will need to select a student from Thomasville in the next few weeks to attend the Be Ready Camp the week of Sept. 11 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Five other students have already been selected through Governor Bob Riley's Office of Faith Based Community Initiatives.

Students entering the sixth grade in August are eligible. Students from Jackson Intermediate, Grove Hill Elementary, Clarke Prep, Jackson Academy and Coffeeville will also attend.

Commissioner Rhondel Rhone said he wanted to make sure that students were chosen that represented all areas of the county.

• The Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood architectural firm has asked for county GIS (Geographic Information System) data to be placed in the City of Jackson's Comprehensive Plan. The commission approved providing that data.

• The commission appointed Ricky Henderson of Thomasville to fill the District 5 position on the county Industrial Development Board. He will replace the late Robert Clarke. Commissioner Rhone also asked that the commission adopt a resolution honoring Clarke's service.

• Commissioner Rhone also said the late Rev. Herman Steele needs to be replaced on the Merit Board.

• Commissioner Bradford asked County Administrator Morris in the Monday work session about having Auburn University staff help update the county's personnel policy and procedures. She said they were expected to come in August, but she did not know how long the process would take.

Currently, the county has no procedure to evaluate department heads.

"That is something important," Bradford said. "…We've got some (departments) that really needs to be evaluated."

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