Published: June 12, 2007 12:36 pm      

Unearthing the mystery below

DUNCAN — In about two weeks, Stephens County commissioners will get to find out just what lies just underneath the front entrance of the Stephens County Courthouse.

They’re not sure they want to know, because that area appears to have been sinking.

“You can tell by looking at the base of the planters; a lot of it (the current paved area and sidewalks) have dropped 4 to 6 inches,” noted Gary Ball, the county’s emergency management director.

The county is using part of the Community Development Block Grant from 2004 to re-do the front entrance.

The plans call for tearing out the pavement at the front entrance; the sidewalks and cobblestone-looking area that is all chipped and broken and therefore a tripping hazard. Replacing the pavement will be a lawn area with three sidewalks leading to the front door.

It will also provide the county the opportunity to fix the courthouse sign near the top of the building on the east side, a repair that’s impossible now because of the poor condition of the paved area at the entrance.

County crews are scheduled to do the preparatory work of tearing out the old pavement.

“We’ll get it torn out, up to grade, change the flagpoles, and get a truck in there to fix the letters on the sign,” said District 1 Commissioner Darrell Sparks.

“But we don’t really know what else is under there,” he said.

For that reason, fill dirt or screenings may have to be brought in to bring the area back up to grade.

“Some of the quantities we have estimated, like for concrete, are probably minimums, because we don’t know what’s under there,” said Stanley Seaman of Landmark Engineering, who drew up the plans for the renovation.

But Claire Murphy of Murphy and Associates, the county’s grant writer, had some reassuring words.

“You will have some extra funds if you need them,” she said.

“You can probably get what you need to get the job done.”

Murphy then reviewed the contract with both the commissioners, the engineer and county officials.

“Because federal funds are involved, certain things have to be documented,” she explained as she reviewed all areas of responsibility.

The county expects to begin its part of the process the week of June 25, barring any new flood or storm damage between now and then.

Dillon Construction will then finish the job, pouring the new sidewalks and a new entrance into the back parking lot.

In other business, commissioners accepted the resignation of Tad Pryor from the Stephens County Fair Board. Pryor recently moved out of the county, explained Commission Chair Dee Bowen.

Pryor’s term expires in 2009, and the council will appoint a new representative from District 1 to take his place on the nine-member board.

Ball said that representatives from FEMA were planning a visit this morning to view recent flood damage.

Commissioners also handled routine housekeeping chores, such as approving purchase orders and requests for appropriations, and:

• Approved the resale of a county lot to a private individual in Duncan located in the Head Addition on Magnolia;

• Approved the price agreement with Alcohol and Drug Testing Inc. for random drug testing in the workplace for the next year;

• Announced their intent to participate in the workers’ compensation fund managed by the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma’s Self-Insurance Fund.