Court preparing final plans for park

COLDSPRING – Changes to the county’s proposed park project were approved last week by San Jacinto County Commissioners’ Court before final approval is to be made on March 28. The proposed park will be located adjacent to the San Jacinto County Head Start facility on FM 2973 and Cochran Road. Plans for the park include parking, walks, modular playground area, restroom building and picnic tables for a construction cost of $182,800 paid for by a Texas Community Development Program Grant. Also included in the grant is an additional $39,200 for engineering/ architectural services and $28,600 for general administration for a total of $250,000. The proposed park will be located on four acres of property owned by the county and is scheduled to be completed by September14. 2012. Once commissioners approve final plans, the project will go out for bids and work started. Among items discussed Wednesday by commissioners for the park is a 1/5 mile, fivefoot wide walking path which will either be asphalt or reinforced concrete; playground areas constructed with engineered wood fiber; pre-fabricated playground equipment for children ages two to five years and six years and up; four picnic tables with tops; at least two water fountains; four barbecue grills, one at each picnic table; convenient water installed for table cleanups and stainless steel commodes in the bathrooms. The parking area will be constructed in compliance with the American Disabilities Act with the installation of concrete walkways. The parking area itself will be gravel. Lighting is also to be added to the bid packages. “I want to see everything documented that is going out to bid,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Laddie McAnally. “I want to know what is going out.” Contractors have a 90 day construction time on the project. In other business, San Jacinto County Criminal District Attorney Richard Countiss told the court that Thomson West, suppliers of law books and online research equipment, will get the county supplied with research information needed and within the county’s anticipated budget. “A research computer will be installed in the law library, cutting down the number of books we have to purchase and allowing access to online legal services,” Countiss said, adding, “the computer use will be limited and controlled by my office. I believe the packaged deal is the best we can do.” In other business, commissioners: • Approved a request from the San Jacinto County Democratic Party to use the district courtroom on April 21 at 10 a.m. for the Democratic County Convention. • Approved a proclamation designating the week of March 12,16, 2012 as Flood Safety Awareness Week in San Jacinto County. • Approved a proclamation designating the Month of March as Red Cross Month. • Approved a proclamation designating the Month of March as Texas Month in San Jacinto County. • Approved a proclamation designating the Month of April as Child Abuse Prevention and Neglect Month in San Jacinto County. • Approved an inter-local agreement by and between San Jacinto County and the San Jacinto County Senior Citizens, with no changes from last year’s agreement. In an attempt to get all four of the county’s compactor sites under the same operating hours, Pct. 3 Commissioner James Moody asked the court if they wanted to vote to change Precinct 2 compactor hours to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to correspond with the hours of Precincts 1, 3 and 4. “Precinct 2 residents like it the way it is,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Donny Marrs, “why change it. Leave it as it is.” No action was taken to change the hours.