Sunday, May 19, 2024
Two buildings are down, and expansion and construction remain for county buildings on Leon Street.
The Coryell County Commissioners Court presented an update on county construction efforts at a June 27 meeting. Following last month's demolition of the old county jail, which has housed offices of justices of the peace, the old Poston Implements building, which had previously housed the Texas Department of Public Safety, was demolished June 26-27.
The site of the old jail will be used to expand the current jail facility from 92 beds to 147 beds. The old Poston site will become a parking lot for the Leon Street Annex, a justice facility. In the meantime, DPS officers are working from Gatesville Primary School. The justice of peace offices that had been housed in the old jail are temporarily located at the old Gatesville City Hall location across the street from the library.
Sierra Demolition has been responsible for the take down of the old jail and Poston buildings, and Commissioner Ryan Basham said as of June 27, most of the work has been completed.
"There hasn't been a lot of movement at the Leon Street Annex," Commissioner Scott Weddle said. "The engineering firm hadn't provided all the information to Jeff Heffelfinger and Southwest Architects." Weddle said he called the engineering company to make sure the architects had all the necessary information.
That information was due to Southwest Architects by June 29.
"They are supposed to provide a base plan which I've been (requesting) for three months," Heffelfinger said. He added that despite the delays, progress will be made soon.
