Gilmer, TX — Upshur County Commissioners on Monday voted to request qualifications from contractors for an upcoming construction project on the county courthouse.

County Judge Dean Fowler said commissioners approved advertising for a contractor to improve the courthouse and bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The county earlier this year received a grant from the state historical commission to bring the courthouse up to accessibility standards. Komatsu Architecture will receive $66,624; Baird, Hampton and Brown will be paid $6,550 for providing mechanical and electrical engineering services; and Jaster-Quintanilla Dallas, which is providing structural engineering services, will be paid $7,450.

Bringing the courthouse into ADA compliance is the first step in a long-term courthouse restoration project.

Commissioners will accept proposals until Nov. 8 and open them at the Nov. 15 meeting, Fowler said.

In other business, commissioners approved opening the courthouse from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for early voting. Early voting is set for Monday through Friday Oct. 22 to Nov. 2.

Commissioners also took no action on allowing Pct. 4 Constable Phillip Hill to have a deputy constable. Fowler said Pct. 4 Commissioner Mike Spencer wanted to discuss the issue with Hill before voting.

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