BUILDING & PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
10 FEBRUARY 2026
Chair Commissioner Erin Curry opened the meeting asking Commissioner Roger Reedy to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The minutes of 12 August 2025 were moved for approval later in the meeting by Commissioner Evan Baddour, seconded by Commissioner Judy Pruett, and were approved unanimously. Commissioner David Wamble, Chair of the County Legislative Body, provided information on the County Executive Graham Stowe and the Animal Shelter Director Jaclyn Payne’s absences, noting some approvals already in place. The Chair who serves also as Chair of the Water Alliance said the next meeting for the Alliance would be 26 March 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the OEM building. EMA Chief Josh Young commented on how communication between his office and the utilities districts was greatly improved during the last freezing weather. Commissioner Roger Reedy discussed that the Columbia Dam is now going through and considered that approval would allow a potential water source for the county. Commissioner Shelly Goolsby mentioned an upcoming Beer Board meeting on the 20th of March 2026.
Animal Shelter Location. Commissioner Evan Baddour asked if anybody had checked with the city of Pulaski (co-owner of property location). The Chair said she had talked with them and they agree with the location but no information was available on cost sharing ($45K {+$7K donation; total cost $52K} with a county recommended share from the city for $20K). Commissioner Tracy Wilburn commented on the cost of the architect services, especially with available drawings available. The Chair commented that the project requires architecture drawings even if schematic drawings are available and even if the building is pre-engineered. Commissioner Roger Reedy commented the county had looked previously at building an animal shelter so didn’t think another architectural service would be required. Commissioner Gayle Jones mentioned another option that being Summertown may have an architect (possibly lower price). The Chair in referencing an engineering services contract discussed price shopping in light of the engineering services contract for this project already notionally selected. Commissioner Gayle Jones commented on previous changes within the OEM budget, noting cost estimates coming in higher than expected given the budget, so she said we shopped. Commissioner Terry Jones commented that approximately three years ago another contractor got the bid but we never pursued the contract. The Chair said she would get with CTAS and discuss.
Courthouse Renovation. The Chair said the scope of work has been approved 13-7 in the full legislative body vote. Commissioner Evan Baddour regarding discussion on why being discussed in this committee said although the scope was approved three months later some of those same commissioners who voted to approve the scope voted against the bond to service that scope. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins commented his reason for voting against the bond was how the county would fund. Further he said we can’t balance our budget now and he wants to wait to see if voters agree to the wheel tax and the county would have funds from that resource. Commissioner David Wamble commented that he was told the $8.5M for the renovation included the design fees and later was told the $8.5 did not include design fees expressing his disapproval. Commissioner Terry Jones said he voted for the SoW but not the price and recommended using the $500K grant plus the county’s match of $220K to use for some of the infrastructure, e.g., use split units and put out for bids since not all of the courthouse needs additional HVAC upgrade, and use the TACNs balance of funds for the fire suppression project. Then he said we wouldn’t have to talk about bonds. Motion by Commissioner Tracy Wilburn, seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins to use the grant for structural issues. The Chair noted the grant is already shown for structural projects. Re discussion on drawings the Chair noted that schematic design is not constructure design. Commissioner Roger Reedy said we should stick with the design we have (go with the $8.5M, make it with the wheel tax) and noted with a 10% property tax increase that at least 1/3 of the citizens would be financially devastated. The Chair noted with the $8.5M the TACNs funding could be applied to support the bond. Commissioner Gayle Jones asked Commissioner David Wamble, given his experience in HVAC equipment, his opinion about units for each office. Commissioner Wamble said he met with OHM and gave options especially with keeping existing duct work which would mean not having to replace the ceiling and he said the contractor came back with the same price as before. Commissioner Wamble said while he didn’t want to stand in the way, but for HVAC all downstairs in the courthouse works, it’s the courtrooms that need improvements. For the boiler, which was recently down, he said it’s repairable. He suggested getting with a boiler company, and do the courtrooms first, use existing duct work resulting in not having to do the ceilings (reduction in cost). Commissioner Shelly Goolsby asked if the structure projects could be pulled from the contract and get bids just for those with the Chair saying what the county has now are schematic not construction drawings/design. She also said if do piece meal the fees will keep going up based on now using another scope. Commissioner Brad Butler said we have a lot of ideas but few experts; we did hire OEM and he knows split units also have their own problems. He said we required a firm for their expertise and we gave them the total package. Commissioner Terry Jones said we are now sending a wheel tax resolution to the citizens which will probably fail. We should go ahead and get started, do the split units. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn said we were told anybody could use the schematic design with the Chair saying we did invest in the schematic designs which gave us a detailed cost estimate. If we went ahead, she said they would have finalized the design which is not that easy. Commissioner Evan Baddour said the issue is we can’t get this funded, and during the previous voting we were down two commissioners, so this time we will have a full commission (Commissioner Joseph Sutton’s vacancy will be filled), so vote again. Commissioner Roger Reedy said he could not see a path to doing the $8.5M without either a wheel tax or an increase to the property tax. He said he did not won’t to abandon OHM when significant dollars had already been spent. Commissioner Shelly Goolsby said remember how this started, the discussion on fire suppression and she mentioned the recent Fayetteville tragic fire. She also mentioned some earlier fires on the square Pulaski has had. Commissioner Gayle Jones mentioned the “50% rule” which protects the developer from excessive infrastructure requirements and protects local government from developers building non-essential building infrastructure over what is in the original scope unless mutually agreed upon. Commissioner Judy Pruett mentioned moving away now puts our buildings at risk. The Chair in addressing some public comments said strict rules, especially with price shopping, apply to professional services. At this time Commissioner Matthew Hopkins pulled his second from the original motion. A new motion by the Chair Commissioner Erin Curry, seconded by Commissioner Evan Baddour, was made to send the $8.5M back to the “full” commission, and that passed 4 – 3 with Commissioners Matthew Hopkins, Tracy Wlburn, and Annelle Guthrie voting no. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn asked who can bring this back up, given Roberts Rules of order, with the Chair saying within the same meeting the same motion cannot be brought up by the people who voted against it before. Commissioner Wilburn asked how the $8.5M would be funded with the Chair saying same as before with the $500K grant and a bond and using the TACN funds. Commissioner Wilburn asked about getting a wheel tax passed with the Chair saying not for this. Commissioner James Lathrop asked if do split units what would be that number and locations, with Commissioner Wamble saying 4-8. Commissioner Joyce Woodards commented that if the $8.5M passes, the bond timing would also have to be voted again.
Unfinished business – Commissioner Tracy Wilburn asked about state trooper office space within the courthouse and that the state doesn’t pay for that space. The Chair said she would take that as an action. New Business – None.
Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, seconded by Commissioner Erin Curry, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Commissioner Erin Curry, other Commissioners Tracy Wilburn, Annelle Guthrie, Brad Butler, Evan Baddour, Judy Pruett, Matthew Hopkins (for Caleb Savage absent) Other Commissioners in attendance Brad Butler, Gayle Jones, David Wamble, Carmen Brown, Roger Reedy, Rickie Carpenter, Matt Rubelsky, Rose Brown, Joyce Woodard, Shelly Goolsby, James Lathrop, David Adams Others in attendance EMA Chief Josh Young