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Updated Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:15 PM
Grayson Commissioners may vote on buying land for new Grayson County Jail
SHERMAN -- The proposed new Grayson County Jail takes center stage at 10 a.m. on Monday in the Commissioner's Courtroom at the Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman as commissioners consider purchasing land for the facility.
The agenda for meeting says commissioners will "adjourn into executive session to discuss acquisition of site for proposed detention facility and to consult with attorney pursuant to 551.072 and 551.071 of the Government Code and reconvene to take action in open meeting if necessary."
The site is the 90-some-odd acres of land located on Baker Road at U.S. Highway 82. It is owned by Christopher Bancroft. Commissioners have said, a number of times, that they intend to pay around $10,000 an acre for the land.
The land isn't the only jail-related item making the list this week. Commissioners will also consider footing the bill for a local law firm to review the proposed contract between the county and Southwest Correctional to build a jail.
Commissioner Gene Short put the matter on the agenda for Monday's meeting. Sheriff Keith Gary has long said county leaders couldn't go through with a private jail agreement unless he agrees signs off on the deal because he is responsible for housing county inmates. In a meeting several weeks ago, Gary introduced former Grayson County Republican Chairman Clyde Siebman as his attorney of choice.
Gary said county commissioners have always had an attorney, Herb Bristow, representing their interest in the negotiations and Gary felt he needed one to help him go through the contract to decide if it is something that he can support.
In an effort to win Gary's support, county leaders agreed that his jailers wouldn't lose their pay level if they took jobs with the private jail and agreed to let Gary keep the number of staffers he said he needed to his office and work court security.
In addition to discussing the jail issue, commissioners will also consider a request to accept insurance payment for damage to Precinct 1 property. They will also hear from Jeff Schneider about a request to solicit bids to repair the roofs on the Terminal building and building 5506 at the airport.
Commissioners will also consider and take action on an abatement requested by Panda Energy.
County leaders will also discuss a request to allow a road cut on Brown Lane in Cedar Bayou for water service in Precinct 1.
Commissioners will also consider a request to reconsider a pay increase for the constable of Precinct 3 in the 2010 budget.
 Comments ... 14 found!
LAND / JAIL : 8/28/2009
THIS MUST BE THE PEOPLE WE VOTED IN, WHAT THE H__ WAS I THINKING. PLEASE I HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN. THE TAX PAYERS THATS US,IF WE DON'T BUILD THE JAIL DOWN TOWN,AN MOST PEOPLE KNOW HOW I FEEL ON THAT. DON'T GO OUT AN BUY LAND. WE ALL READY HAVE THE AIR PORT.SO I CAN STOP CALLING THE PEOPLE WE VOTED IN, ME AGAIN.
TELL / TRUTH
Farm : 8/27/2009
With the extra acres they should farm it. The worker inmates could work the land, then use the veggies to feed them. Other counties do it.
Farmer Grover
TO ALL : 8/27/2009
I WRITE IN MANY COMMENTS,EVAN THO MY SPELLING IS NOT THE BEST. I DO LIKE TO THANK THE HEARLD DEMOCRAT FOR LETTING THE PEOPLE SHARE WHAT THEY THINK.I DO WONDER IF THE PEOPLE WHO RUN ARE CITY READ ANY OF WHAT THE PEOPLE OR I SHOULD SAY VOTERS. IF THEY DID, THEY MAY LEARN WHAT WE ARE THINKING.SOME OF US ARE HANDI CAP, LIKE MY SELF ,BUT WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE I DO. THANKS AGAIN NEWS PAPER FOR LETTING THE PEOPLE SPEAK. WE MAY NOT BE RIGHT.BUT WHAT I READ WE HAVE SOME SMART PEOPLE WHO DO HAVEGREAT IDEALS FOR ARE CITY.LIKE I SAID I HOPE WHO RUNS ARE CITY READS COMMENTS. HERE I GO AGAIN, L. MERRILL
COMMENTS
JAIL : 8/26/2009
WELL I STILL SAY KEEP IT DOWN TOWN.BEEN THERE FOR I00 YRS.AN EVAN THO IT HAS BEEN HERE THAT LONG.YOU SHER DON'T HAVE TO MOVED THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE I DON'T HERE EVERY ONE GETTING MAD.IS THIS NOT TRUE. BUT I WILL SAY THIS. IF THE JAIL & COURTS HAVE TO MOVE.AN THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY THIS.THEN AIR PORT IS WHERE I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE.I HAVE NEVER HEARD SPENDING THE PEOPLES MONEY ON LAND THAT WE HAVE ALL PAID FOR AN THAT IS THE AIR PORT.THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY THING THERE ANY WAY I BEEN HERE FOR 35 YRS AN ALL YOU GUYS AN GIRLS EVER DONE ABOUT THAT AIRPORT IS TALK,TALK,AN MORE TALK. IF YALL GO OUT AN BUY NEW LAND FOR A JAIL AN YOU OWN A AIRPORT.I WOULD HAVE TO SAY ALL OF YALL ARE STUPIT!! I CAN'T THINK OF A WORD THAT MAKES IT CLEAR L. MERRILL AN I AM SPEAKING FOR MY SELF.
HERE AGAIN
To Employee : 8/24/2009
Thank you. I didn't know his name.
still disgusted
pay increase? : 8/24/2009
Why are they considering a pay increase for one person, it should either be all or none! I've worked hard all year, your not going to consider a pay increase for me?
Jack
Land : 8/24/2009
My question is and will be, What about all of the land the county already owns at the airport. IT IS PAID FOR: It will not cost the Tax payers $10,000. per acre. It is too close to someone on the courts family property? Are is this just another way to cram one more thing down the TAX PAYERS throat before they are voted out of office.
Tax payer
: 8/24/2009
Everyone might as well realize that you aren't going to get to have a say in the jail issue until next election. Just remember this when they are up for re-election. Some are coming up in 2010 and some aren't until 2012... Check on your Commissioner. The Judge is 2010!!
Voter
JAIL : 8/24/2009
Seems as though if we are going to vote out the commisioners we might as well vote out the Sheriff. He is always behind in these matters, and you would think the Sheriff would be the first one involved, escpecially when it involves a jail. Does he really do anything?
Nobody
To Still Disgusted : 8/24/2009
Major Booher is the Constable of Pct3 who is asking for a pay raise in this article, last line item.
Employee
Use your gray matter : 8/24/2009
The County Judge and Commissioner's are flat out wrong to buy land when the Sheriff hasn't even said that he will sign on the private jail project. This is just another attempt to force something down the throats of Sheriff Gary and the taxpayers. Next they will say the jail has to be built because they already bought the property. Just more of the same bullying tactics. Many friends of mine are in agreement to have the joy one day of voting these bums out of office.
Watching the Court
To employee : 8/23/2009
Who is Major Booher?????? and what does he have to do with this issue?
still disgusted
land issue : 8/23/2009
Don't you think it is a little premature to purchase land before you have a signed contract? What if the contract does not get signed, are the commissioners going to build a public jail on that property? I really don't think so. Seems to me like the commissioners are pushing their agenda once again to force what they want.
still disgusted
Why? : 8/23/2009
Why does Major Booher need a pay increase larger than everyone else? He sit's at the downtown merchants most of the time. If he get's more then everyone else should get more.
Employee
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