Reporting By Amy Meyer |Mineral Wells Area News
The Palo Pinto County Commissioners Court on Monday approved a contract for industrial hygiene and remediation consulting services related to recent water damage at the county courthouse while advancing multiple subdivision, infrastructure and maintenance items during its regular meeting.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to enter into a contract with Ensolum, an industrial hygiene consulting firm that will assess the scope of damage inside the courthouse and prepare formal remediation bid documents. The contract includes a not-to-exceed ceiling of $45,000.
County Judge Shane Long said the county attorney had reviewed and signed off on the agreement, noting that Ensolum’s schedule of rates and analytical work falls within the $45,000 maximum. Representatives for Ensolum said the work will “provide a remediation bid document” for contractors and would begin Thursday. Ensolum will also assist the county in reviewing contractor bids once they are submitted.
The remediation work follows water intrusion at the courthouse in late December, which prompted mitigation measures and temporary cleanup.
Utility & Maintenance Actions
Commissioners unanimously:
• ratified the annual renewal of the county’s Fortinet firewall licensing through CTSI;
• approved a subscription for premium remote monitoring of the courthouse’s new backup generator; and
• approved a change order supporting electrical upgrades for the county’s wastewater treatment plant, with costs deducted from existing project contingency funds.
Subdivision Plats Approved
The Court advanced three development items after favorable review from the county engineer and submission of tax certificates:
• a replat of Phase Three, Section Five within a Possum Kingdom Lake subdivision;
• the final plat for the Loving Road Estates subdivision, creating 19 lots and a new private roadway; and
• amended plats for three lots within the Ranger Ridge subdivision.
Road Material Bids Opened
The Court opened sealed bids for road materials from multiple suppliers. Bid awards are expected to be made on Jan. 26.
No budget amendments were presented, and the meeting adjourned without further action.