FORT DAVIS – Jeff Davis County received two pieces of good news this week regarding the county’s community center renovation project. A long-awaited environmental review has been completed and a new grant has been received.
According to County Grantsman Larry Francell, the environmental review, described by him as a “stamp of approval,” not a lengthy report, found no concerns that will impede the project. Francell said that the review focused on a checklist of simple questions, relating to such items as potential underground petroleum tanks, the possible presence of any endangered wildlife, and the potential presence of significant archeological materials.
As no issues were found, the report paved the way for County Judge Curtis Evans to sign a contract with El Paso-based Aztec Contractors to begin the work of transforming the former retail store — Fort Davis Outfitters store on Cemetery Road — into a functional multi-use community center and emergency evacuation shelter. The total value of the project is $3 million. Work is being funded by grants, including one from the federal Housing and Urban Development program (HUD). It was a HUD requirement to have the environmental review completed.
According to the county judge’s clerk, Sandra Chambers, the county was also notified that it has received a grant of $125,000 from Permian Basin Area Foundation for the kitchen portion of the project, which was separated from the contractor’s bid. “We took that out of the contractor package because we have become a member of BuyBoard, which allows us to purchase equipment very affordably,” Chambers said. BuyBoard is a purchasing cooperative used by local governments to combine resources to achieve economies of scale on purchases.
With guidance from the project architect and Aztec, Chambers came up with a list of typical equipment for this project. She received multiple commercial quotes and, after comparing with BuyBoard, found significant savings on the items, including a Viking commercial stove, large freezer and refrigerator, stainless steel prep tables, and other necessary equipment.
According to Evans, he is now in the phase of getting the contract with Aztec finalized for signature, an action approved by commissioners earlier this month.