The City Commission chambers in Ennis served as the site for a pre-construction meeting for the Ellis County Sub-Courthouse located in Ennis recently. The construction contract for the new facility, to be located in the 300 block of South Sonoma Trail, was awarded to Prime Construction in a recent meeting of the Commissioners’ Court.

“I’m just excited to see this taking shape,” said Commissioner Bill Dodson, pct. 2. “This is something that has been proposed for a number of years, and I am pleased that it is happening.”

County Judge Carol Bush concurred. “The people of Ennis, Palmer, and Ferris deserve a quality building in which to conduct their business with the County,” she added. “It is so gratifying to be able to take part in providing that building for them.”

Friday’s meeting brought stakeholders together to discuss expectations, work process, and city permitting requirements, among other topics.

“The County and the City have really been able to form what you might call a partnership in terms of service to this community,” said County Engineer Joe White. “The City has been involved from the conceptual phase and they have been really great to work with.”

Larry Irsik of ArchiTexas, the designated architect for the project, also served as the architect for the restoration of the historic Courthouse in downtown Waxahachie, as well as the Depot in Itasca, the reconstruction of the courthouse in Hill County, and other historic buildings in the region.

“Tony Medina, who is a structural engineer right here in Ennis, did the foundation for the building,” White said. “We really wanted to work with Tony because he really knows the region and understands what needs to be done to have a solid foundation here in Ennis.”

Medina attended the pre-construction meeting, as did Irsik, White, Dodson, Bush, Judge Bill Woody, Jones Lang LaSalle Vice President Jon Vidaurri, Ennis Mayor Russell Thomas, and Ennis City Manager Steve Howerton. Project Manager Myron Freund and Project Superintendent Duane Breece represented Prime Construction.

“I am pleased with the quality of what is being done here, with the team that is working on this facility,” said Commissioner Dennis Robinson, pct. 1. “It’s going to be a lot more convenient for the citizens from the eastern side of the county – Ferris, Palmer, Ennis, Garrett and so on – to have an accessible and efficient building where they can conduct their county business.”

Expected completion of the facility is March of 2010.