By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-An update on the new jail project was provided here at the October county commission meeting, and, in other business, commissioners also voted to approve several resolutions.

County mayor Dale Reagan offered the update concerning recent jail project developments.

“Just to give everyone an update… on the jail, the next step is contractor selection,” Reagan said.  “The county is pursuing a USDA loan to finance the project, and you all approved that.”

Reagan also explained the submission of “several key documents” will need to be completed, including “an environmental report, ER Phase 1 status completed and submitted to USDA for review, preliminary architectural report status completed and submitted to USDA for review, and a financial feasibility study is (also) underway at this time.”

After submitting all the data and environmental studies, the mayor explained the next step would be to get the loan approved.

Reagan also said the county is looking to hire a project manager.

“A contractor is brought in early on in the design phase and provides input on costs, schedules and constructibility, and ultimately commits to deliver the project within the guaranteed maximum price,” he said.  “This method is often chosen to enhance collaboration and provide cost certainty in the process.

“I think this has been the discussion of this commission and I think this is the direction you all wanted to go with this, is to go ahead… and secure a project manager.”

Additionally, Reagan addressed wheel tax money earmarked for the project.

“I know the wheel tax… went into effect April of 2020—that money, as I have said many times, we assure everyone that it is in the reserve account,” Reagan said.   “$28 has been going into the debt service.  It’s there for the purpose of paying off the debt.  At this time (the borrowing amount of) $15 million at a rate of 4.2 percent, and hopefully that interest rate will come down some, for 40 years the payment will be a little over $750,000 a year.”

Other business

In other business, county commissioners voted on a number of miscellaneous resolutions.

Commissioner Bryan Coons made a motion to approve appointments to the Clay County E-911 board. 

Commissioner Jennifer Ritter seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Commissioners Jeff Gentry and Dorothy Forney were not in attendance at the meeting.

Commissioner Winton Young made a motion to amend the beginning fund balance for the general purpose school fund budget July 1, 2025.  Coons seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Coons made a motion to approve a resolution to amend the budget for the 2025-2026 general purpose school fund.  Young seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Coons made a motion to approve a resolution to amend the budget for the 2025-2026 Clay County highway department.  Commissioner Parrish Wright seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Coons made a motion to approve the park and recreation master plan.  Ritter seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Young made a motion to approve election commission surplus items for sale.  Commissioner Jerry Rhoton seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Wright made a motion to approve the official Clay County road map.  Coons seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Ritter made a motion to approve a pay increase for EMS personnel, dispatchers, and county law enforcement officers.  Coons seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Coons made a motion to approve Ashley Bean, Melissa Brannon, Daniel Burton, and Ashley Hancock as notaries.  Ritter seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Coons made a motion to approve Jackson Thornton (CPA) to perform financial service for the county jail USDA loan.  Wright seconded the motion, and it passed 8-0.

Young made a motion to approve a national environmental review for the jail site, per USDA requirement.  Rhoton seconded the motion, and it passed  8-0.