Another regular quarterly meeting of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee found the County’s bond program still on time and under budget. The project was approved by voters in May of 2007.

“As you can tell just by driving past the project, things are moving along very well,” said Randy Rayford, Vice President of Project and Development Services for Jones Lang LaSalle. “And we are very pleased with how we stand financially.”

Rayford joined Jon Vidaurri on the project full time about a month ago, having successfully completed several new school buildings in Grand Prairie ISD. He gave the following statistics on the project:

Courts building:

• Dried in
• Drywall framing 95 percent complete
• Rough-in for ceilings and walls approximately 85 percent complete
• Brick and stone work approximately 65 percent complete
• Critical path is completing the rough-in for mechanical, electrical and plumbing so drywall work can commence

Tunnel:

• Construction documents approved by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards
• Construction 95 percent complete and street reopened

Parking garage:

• Precast installation complete
• One section of concrete topping in place

Detention Center:

• Exterior shell masonry 99 percent complete
• Interior masonry walls approximately 80 percent complete
• Mechanical and plumbing rough-in continues
• Prime painting of walls has commenced
• Delivery of equipment has been made
• Kitchen is expected to open for operation on November 1

County Engineer Joe White showed the committee a series of aerial photos of the project, from the ground up, highlighting parts of the project where cost savings and/or upgrade of quality have been possible due to careful construction management.

“For instance on the concrete, the best curing is water soaked mats. It reduces cracking in the concrete – it is just a lot of trouble,” he said, noting the project called for less-expensive chemical curing, but contractors chose to provide the higher quality product at no additional cost.

The committee will next meet on Monday, January 4, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor courtroom of the historic Courthouse.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend all meetings of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.