County board continues to look at renovation of Campbell Furniture building

With as many steps forward as backward, you may have thought that the Franklin County Board was auditioning for Dancing With the Stars when the board met in regular session Tuesday night.

A protracted discussion on construction dominated the meeting.  Approval was granted for re-carpeting Court Room No. 2, a hallway, and the board meeting room. A third floor rest room will also be re-tiled and a commode replaced.   Also, upgrades to handicap accessible facilities was also approved. The measure was approved despite a “no” vote from Jim McPhail, of West Frankfort.

A major discussion regarding the replacement of the roof on the county building that once housed Campbell Furniture saw differing views as well.   Even when the question was voted on, not a great deal had been decided. The board voted to advertise for bids to tear off the old roof and replace it. What was not decided was whether the replacement roof would be metal or rubberized.  And, who would tear off the old roof was also left open.

One suggestion was to utilize help from prisoners who tore off the facade of the building recently. That would cost the county no money. However, board chairman Randall Crocker noted that there would be union opposition.  Board member Alan Price had been a vocal critic of architect Brian Edmondson’s work with the county during the meeting. And, he seemed to have some support for that opinion. In the end, bids will be advertised and the specifications will presumably come from those meetings of the three persons delegated. The board will not have the chance to go back and approve the specs. However, the board does have the right to reject all bids when the process moves to that point. A previous bid for a metal roof was rejected as being too extravagant.

The County approved borrowing $225,000 for the jail project and $70,000 for courthouse upgrades. They combined the vote, which also did not please all board members. Board member Jim McPhail said prior to the vote, “You know that by combining the measures you’ll lose my vote.” And, indeed when the vote was taken, McPhail again voted “no”.

Another changing of path comes as the board rescinded their contract with F & W Electric for the heating and air-conditioning work at Franklin County Jail.  They then approved a contract with Honeywell for the project.

Approval was granted for the new Franklin County logo as created by the Arthur Agency. A diagram of Illinois is used along with the bold type “Franklin” and a large red star. Board members approved after good-naturedly debating the star’s color. The most concern expressed was over the fact that the star itself on the logo made Franklin County look like it was located just south of Chicago. The county’s website is behind in its construction it was reported. Arthur Agency is also handling that for the county and is behind in their plans.

Good news came with the acceptance of the 2010 and 2011 audit. Board member Ken Hungate summed it up: ” At one time we had a good little book of things we needed to correct. Now, we have a couple of pages only and are working on them.”