Members of the Carter County Commission heard an update on proposed capital improvements from the Buildings and Grounds Committee during the Commission’s meeting on Monday.

Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Isaiah Grindstaff presented his fellow commissioners with a list of major projects from the committee.

“These are the top items the Buildings & Grounds Committee or Commission have taken action on,” Grindstaff explained.

Some of the projects have already had actions taken while others are goals for the future, according to Grindstaff. The list will be a “living document” according to Grindstaff with projects being added as they are identified, and removed as they are completed or the county decides not to pursue them further.

“This is something our committee is working on to keep track of these projects,” Grindstaff said.

One of the projects currently underway on the list that is nearing completion is the replacing of the sound system in the courtroom located on the second floor of the courthouse.

The Commission previously voted to replace the sound system in the courtroom to help members of the Commission and the public better hear during Commission meetings and also to improve hearing and recording for court proceedings held in the courtroom.

The project was put out for bids, and the top three bidders were brought in for scheduled demonstrations with their equipment. The county selected Cates Music as the winning bidder for the project, with a projected cost of $41,716.99.

“Initially we were looking to install that this week, but we were not able to do that,” Grindstaff said on Monday.

Other projects on the capital improvements list include:

• Courthouse Security Project

This project is slated for two phases — one to create a single point of entry for the courthouse to improve security issues and the other for the installation of camera systems and door security systems.

The primary part of the project is reducing the number of entryways into the building to one dedicated entrance and one dedicated exit. Members of the public visiting the courthouse would pass through a metal detector when entering the building. Employees would access the building using security badges at the doors. Deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office would provide security for the facility. Tentative drawings for the project have been completed by Reedy & Sykes architecture firm and are currently being reviewed by officeholders. The Building & Grounds Committee is waiting to see a cost estimate from Reedy & Sykes. The county has received proposals for the installation of camera and security system components and recommended Telecommunications Services (TCS) with a bid of $495,915.00 for the project.

• Sluder Property on Highway 321

The Sluder family donated a parcel of property along Highway 321 to be used for the benefit of the community. Demolition of a house on the property will be completed by the Highway Department as weather allows and debris will be disposed of at the Carter County Landfill.

• ADA Transition Plan

The purpose of this project is to evaluate all of the county-owned/operated buildings for issues related to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. The Commission previously approved funding to hire an outside firm to conduct the assessment, and the contract has been negotiated.

• Old Jail Demolition

This project will demolish the interior of the old Carter County jail, which was located on the second floor of the Justice Center above the Sheriff’s Department offices, clerk’s office, and courtrooms. This would eliminate the old inmate housing areas and leave the upstairs of the building as an open shell. The space would then be evaluated by the Sheriff’s Department and courts to determine needs and future plans. Tentative plans have been developed by Reedy & Sykes and will be reviewed by the Building and Grounds Committee in July 2018.

• Emergency Management Agency office / Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

The purpose of this project is to address space issues with the EMA Office and current EOC during an emergency event. In recent years, plans have been discussed to move the EOC and EMA office to the unfinished portion of the building housing the Carter County 911 Communications Center. The county has applied for grant funding to help defray the costs of the project.

• Environmental Court

The purpose of this project is to establish an environmental court for Carter County, which would handle any environmental cases created referred by the Planning Office for violations of property ordinances.