The Cherokee County Commission, during its Feb. 9 meeting, approved a $41,300 contract to upgrade security for the Cherokee County Courthouse.

In a previous meeting, the commission gave Cherokee County Circuit Judge Kevin Grimes, Cherokee County Administrator Tim Burgess and Cherokee County Attorney Bill Hawkins permission to prepare and present plans for courthouse security upgrades.

“That contract deals with the construction of a security attachment to back of the courthouse,” Hawkins explained during the Feb. 9 meeting. “There have been concerns about weapons being brought into the courthouse and the need for additional security. The contract that has been drawn up with anticipated expenditures of $41,300.”

From discussions in the work session prior to the regular meeting, Hawkins also suggested adding a provision to the contract requiring the contractor to keep damage to the existing courthouse structure to a minimum.

Hawkins said there are some issues which need to be addressed, including movement of utility lines and other concerns. “As I understand, there is some site preparation the county has to do,” said Hawkins. “We anticipate the chairman signing and that the start date will be set once these things are taken care of.”

Hawkins said they met with an architect who advised them that this was the best route to go on the courthouse security issue without incurring additional costs. There’s a good chance that the project will remain below $50,000.

Upon the recommendation of Cherokee County Engineer Corey Chambers, the commission adopted a resolution agreeing to resurface and traffic stripe County Road 71 from an unnamed branch north to Terrapin Creek. Based upon legislative action on President Barack Obama’s proposed stimulus package, the county could be eligible for $300,000 for road projects, Chambers said.

“We are asking the commission to submit a resolution to the state to initiate a resurfacing and restriping project on Cherokee County Road 71,” said Chambers. “We would be ahead of the game if the money does come through.”

On another highway department matter, the commission, on Chambers’ recommendation, declared the following equipment as surplus property to be sold at the J.M. Wood Auction March 11-14: A 1986 Caterpillar 950 B Wheeled Loader and a 1994 Caterpillar D-7HXl Dozer. The county should receive $122,500 minus the 7 percent auction fee for a total of around $113,925, Chambers said.

In other business, the commission:

-Reappointed Jeff Adcock and Harry Moon to the Cherokee County Communications District E-911 Board. Their terms will expire January 2013.

-Approved excess land redemptions to Reba Ray for $294.26.

-Accepted a petition to vacate a proposed unnamed county road and adopted a resolution setting a hearing date during the regular commission meeting March 9 at 10 a.m.

-Approved, upon the recommendation of Cherokee County Revenue Commissioner Johnny Roberts, levying Ad Valorem taxes for the year 2009 calculated as 42 mils for county and state and five mils for municipal for a total of 47 mils.

The next meeting of the commission is Monday, Feb. 23, beginning at 5 p.m. The work session begins at 4 p.m.