Moss reviewing plans to replace county barn
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Jasper County Precinct 4 Commissioner Vance Moss is reviewing construction plans to replace the county equipment barn that burned to the ground Jan. 29.

He is still waiting for insurance investigators from Trident and Ford Motor Company to meet and sift the remains of the fire. Moss said, after many delays, the teams should converge today, Feb. 28.

Ford wanted their investigators to be present because preliminary reports indicated the fire started in or near a brand new B-95 New Holland backhoe that had been used that day and parked about 4 p.m.

The fire was reported about 6 p.m. Heat became so intense that it damaged property next door belonging to Eugene Bland. Trident has said it will not pay those damages.

County commissioners have twice discussed and twice tabled proposals to pay Bland. Moss said they have asked District Attorney Steve Hollis to check with the state attorney general about the legality of the county reimbursing Bland for what his homeowner's insurance did not cover.

County Judge Mark Allen told Moss that an engineer in Beaumont, Clifton Koncaba, volunteered to donate plans for a replacement barn, saving the county the expense of hiring an architect.

Koncaba works for Recon Engineering of Beaumont, a company primarily engaged in drafting for the refinery businesses in the area.

Moss said the plans "will basically put the building back like it was; same size, same break room, mezzanine over the offices and a h a n d i c a p - a c c e s s i b l e restroom."

Moss said the old concrete slab will have to be removed. It was poured inside the building, which was one of the oldest structures in Jasper County.

Moss said he will be giving County Auditor Dru Miller the specification bid package for the building and foundation. He wants to advertise for a turnkey job.

Once bids are received and the county commissioners accept a proposal, it should be six to eight weeks before the new barn is in place.

In the meanwhile, Moss is operating out of temporary buildings set up in the parking lot of the old barn. Road work is continuing with equipment loaned from other precincts.