“On time. Under budget.” County Engineer Joe White and Jones Lang LaSalle Vice President Jon Vidaurri repeated the usual refrain in the final meeting of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee on Monday evening.

The group gathered in the Grand Jury Room of the new Ellis County Courts building to hear the final report and to tour the facility they have watched over in behalf of the citizens of the County for three years now.

Likening the failed Justice Center that was torn down on the same site to a “nightmare,” County Judge Carol Bush told the committee they were now seeing a “sweet dream” come to fruition.

The Committee met quarterly since July of 2007, having been appointed soon after voters approved the over $50 million bond package that included the Courts building and expansion of the detention center. The City of Waxahachie also received voter approval for funding to build a public parking garage, which was combined with the County’s buildings for design and construction, achieving what White calls “economy of scale.”

“We planned our work and we worked our plan,” White told the committee Monday night, playing down the many compliments that were directed his way as members of the committee took the opportunity to share final thoughts.

Identical sentiments were echoed around the room: pride, satisfaction, and a job well done. Commissioners Dennis Robinson, pct. 1; Heath Sims, pct. 3; and Ron Brown, pct. 4 were also on hand to extend their thanks to the committee members for volunteering their time over the last three years. Although out of town on Monday, Commissioner Bill Dodson, pct. 2, had sent his regards as well.

Following their discussion, the group separated to tour the facility, viewing everything from the well-engineered computer server room with its self-contained cooling towers and redundant power systems, to the inmate-transfer tunnel, to the District Attorney’s Office.

Members of the committee, which was officially disbanded by order of the Commissioners’ Court as of the close of Monday’s meeting, were Roy Orr (Chair), Cathy Altman, Cheree´ Barrett, Jimmy Boon, Larry Burns (Co-Chair), Ken Chambers, Scott Jackson, John Knight, Bill Lewis, James Moon, Charlie Morton, Albert Garcia Sr., John Tabor, John Wyckoff, and Doug Young.