The Hill County Commissioners Court voted to look into the costs of foundation repairs at the Hill County Cell Block Museum during a regular meeting held Tuesday, October 10.
The museum’s board of directors has been working with consultants to develop a plan to reopen the museum to the public for the past year. The board is also in the process of launching a capital campaign to raise funds for repair and renovation work.
Board President Bob McGregor spoke to the court about the importance of preserving the museum and its collection, which includes family and historical treasures entrusted to the museum, including items that belonged to veterans who served the country.
The old county jail (1893-1983) was awarded a Texas Historical Marker in 1981 and is entered in the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2009, the county raised the northeast corner of the building to stabilize the foundation. The south side now needs to be stabilized.
The museum board recently spent over $50,000 of museum funds to completely renovate the historic Cumberland Presbyterian Church behind the museum, and McGregor said that the board has spent a considerable amount of money on the jail itself.
“We know we have serious issues over there to get the building reopened,” McGregor said. “I ask you to give it serious consideration.”
He told the court, “As I walk those steps today and see how they’re worn, I think about the people who went before.”
Commissioners voted to have County Judge Justin Lewis draft a request for proposals to bring back before the court for consideration. The county will seek proposals to research its options for stabilizing the museum’s foundation.
The court also discussed the county’s burn ban. After receiving input from Hill County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Hemrick and Emergency Services District (ESD) 1 President Ken Goins about fire conditions, commissioners opted to leave the ban in place until it expires Monday, October 23.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the sheriff’s office and Aquilla Independent School District’s police department. As schools in the county form departments to comply with recent legislative changes, agreements are coming before the court that outline how the sheriff’s office and school police officers communicate and coordinate efforts.
An agreement between Precinct 1 and the City of Blum was approved. Under the agreement, the city provides the county water for construction projects, and in return, the county performs repair and maintenance work on certain city streets that serve the public. They include North 2nd Street, Faith Street, East 3rd Street, West 2nd Street, South Avenue B, 5th Street (east and west), HCR 1137 (within the Blum city limits).
Communication services agreements were approved with two more entities utilizing the county’s public safety radio system. Mount Calm Independent School District and Gholson Independent School District police departments both recently signed agreements.
Although Gholson is not in Hill County, it is an area that local first responders could be called to in the event of an emergency, and the department will pay the same fee as other users on the system.
A dental services agreement was approved for the Hill County jail that will allow dental staff to come into the jail one day a month and provide dental care to inmates. Judge Lewis said that the costs of transporting inmates to dental appointments and the associated liability is greater than the expense of using the service. The company will conduct an inventory before they enter the jail and when they leave to ensure all equipment brought in leaves the jail.
The court declared a Ford F-250, Ford service truck, a tanker, a water spray truck and a water trailer as surplus property for Precinct 4 Commissioner Martin Lake. An associated agreement with Purple Wave Auction was approved to allow the commissioner to sell the equipment through the company.
A financing agreement was approved with Government Capital Corporation regarding the financing of multiple vehicles for county offices. The agreement will cover vehicles for constables in Precincts 2 and 3, the environmental deputy and veterans services officer.
The court also approved allowing the City of Itasca to purchase two 2014 Ford Explorers from the county at a cost of $1,000 each for use by the Itasca Police Department. The vehicles are at end of useful life for the county but were used by the sheriff’s office until recently and will assist the department, which is in need of usable vehicles as it restructures.
A budget adjustment was approved in the amount of $110,000 from Precinct 3 Commissioner Scotty Hawkins to Precinct 4 Commissioner Martin Lake for the purchase of a water truck.
Commissioners also approved requesting proposals for roof replacement at the county’s Support Services Building, located at 218 North Waco Street in Hillsboro. Lewis said that numerous leaks have been patched and it is time to start looking at a new roof for the building, which houses the county’s records.
In other action, the court declared a number of non-functional or end-of-life computers and miscellaneous equipment salvage or surplus material for the county’s information technology department. The items will be sold through Kaddatz Auctioneers.
Old metal ballot boxes that were once used in the Hill County Elections Office were also declared salvage materials and will be recycled.
The court’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, October 24, at 8:30 a.m. in the Hill County Courtroom of the courthouse.
The Lakelander 