Sara Ortega
sortega@weatherforddemocrat.com
Parker County Commissioner’s Court accepted bids on the transportation bond road projects and approved a statement of supporting for rezoning around the jail.
Deena Nichols, county purchasing agent, said out of the 14 proposals presented for Pojo Road from South Highway 199 to Holbrook, Jackson Construction offered the lowest bid at $2.24 million.
The court accepted the bid which was under the original budget of $2.6 million.
Dwain Brown, Freese and Nichols representative, requested the court approve more than the original estimate to Church Road from FM730 to FM1886 for additional road improvements.
“The bids we’ve been getting are all truly exceptional and all under budget because of the current economic climate,” he said. “These alternates would benefit the road in the long-run and still leave us sufficiently under budget.”
Brown said excess savings from the Flat Rock and Pojo road projects could go toward the alernate improvements including additional striped edges, and drainage works for the Church road project.
The court awarded the project with alternates to Northeastern Pavers at $779,285.
City of Weatherford Planner, Troy Anderson requested the court issues a statement of support to the city for a rezoning issue to 129 Hogle Street around the jail and sheriff’s offices.
“Currently, the north side is zoned planned development and the south side is light industrial,” he said. “We would like to rezone it all planned development and create a sort of jail district.”
Anderson said the current area around the jail contains sites for future law and bail bond offices.
The court expressed concern about additional funds the city may request of the county to bring the area into compliance under the new zoning but Anderson said any existing compliance issues would be brought in under the new zoning.
“We want to be proactive and streamline any future efforts for possible jail expansion,” he said.
