Court approves new HVAC unit for jail

Court approves new HVAC unit for jail Brian Smith Wed, 05/22/2024 - 10:15 am After much discussion, Jack County commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the purchase of a new heating and air conditioning unit for the Jack County Jail at its Monday, May 13 meeting. The new HVAC system will cost the county $20,326, according to the estimate from Redline Heating & Air, of Decatur. Commissioners had been debating the purchase of the new unit for the last two meetings, wanting to see if the old unit could be repaired first and asking Jail Administrator Scott Simonton to get some answers. With many of the units still in operation since the jail opened nearly 20 years ago, Simonton said a valve could be replaced on the old unit at a cost of about $8,000. Umphress said that the other older units could fail at any time. Simonton was directed to contact multiple vendors and is expected to bring a report back to the court within the next 30-60 days. The unit to be replaced would be for the booking area and in the low security inmate area. Voting for the purchase was Umphress and commissioners Kenny Salazar and Terry Ward, with commissioners Gary Oliver and Henry Birdwell voting against the purchase. During the court’s April 22 meeting, Oliver asked about the cost of repairing the leaks and changing out the freon. “Just writing a check isn’t a response either,” Oliver said. County looking for new businesses Umphress provided a report promoting new businesses to come to the county. In many cases, businesses will send an introductory email or call from a company to see if an area is interested and what it can offer, the judge said. UmphressandEmergency Management Coordinator Frank Hefner recently toured a bitcoin mining facility in Dickens County, which has a population of around 800. The tour was to see if bitcoin might be something that would work in the county. “We went there in an attempt to find out how to reduce the tax burden on our residents,” Umphress said. “Everyone (the county residents) we spoke with says they have had enough and just can’t afford more of this.” Umphress said the county is working with the Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation, all three of the county’s school districts, and Faith Community Hospital in an attempt to form a committee. The goal is to ensure there is representation of all aspects of the community and find projects or businesses for the county to pursue. Umphress said something needs to be done to ease the tax burden on county residents. “It’s time we begin thinking outside the box,” he said. “We have to retain our students with higher income jobs as an alternative to the oilfield and renewable energy.” In another attempt to ease the tax rate, the county judge issued a memo to all department heads, telling them to “mentally prepare for tough decisions and cost-saving measures” during the upcoming 2024-25 budget preparations. “I warned them of possible personnel cuts and reallocation of money, as well,” Umphress said. The next commissioners court meeting will be Wednesday, May 29.