30-05-2025
Fairground crews move indoors to complete renovations
With an agenda bearing a few quick project updates, a donation and budget approvals, the Board of Stephens County Commissioners delved into a relatively short business meeting and checked items off their list Tuesday morning.
Chairman Todd Churchman and Commissioner Russell Morgan heard a quick update from Butch Lawson, construction manager at-risk with Hope Equipment and Construction, for the American Rescue Plan Act projects for the Stephens County Fairgrounds and Stephens County Courthouse.
Lawson said both the fairground upgrades and construction crews are making progress on the renovation projects. He said the masons should be completed by the end of the week, as well as the metal stud framers. He said HVAC crews continue to work this week and electricians are preparing to get started.
Lawson said the brick wall changed the whole look of the west side of the building.
'That little brick wall sure changed the whole looks of that side that west side of building,' Lawson said. 'Looks really good.'
For the courthouse, Lawson said the demolition is complete in the courtroom. He said the framing crew looks to begin soon. Lawson said the final color selections were selected for the courthouse.
In another segment, the county board approved a request to the Stephens County Excise Board for temporary appropriations. The request would pay current expenses for operating the county until the Stephens County general fund budget received final approval for fiscal year 2025-26.
Chairman Todd Churchman said they approve this request every year. He said this request pre-funds a certain percentage before the final budget is approved.
'That way we don't have any interruptions,' he said.
Stephens County Clerk Jenny Moore said most of the items are 50% approved.
'The travel accounts I left at full just because that funds training and travel and payroll travel,' she said. 'Most everything else is at 50%.'
In the fairground report, Morgan said the fairground crews are doing a lot of work on the inside of the building out of the weather.
'It's coming along pretty good,' Morgan said.
In other news, the board approved:
• A utility relocation agreement in District #1.
• To accept a donation of books from Pat Jennings for Stephens County Jail.
• A surplus and disposal resolution for equipment items for District 1.
• Two fairground agreements: One for the Devereaux Claim-A-Bull event in the Stephens County Arena June 14 and one for the Smith Family reunion in the Heritage Room Sept. 13.
The Stephens County Commissioners will convene for the next weekly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 2 at their office, located inside the Stephens County Courthouse.
