The Kleberg County Commissioners Court requested that the representatives from CAS Companies bring them a list of what is necessary to renovate the Exxon building at the next regular meeting.

Kleberg County Judge Pete De La Garza and Armando Salazar, maintenance director for the county, will oversee the preliminary assessment of the building.

Aaron Garcia and Raymond Moses, with CAS Companies, made a brief presentation to commissioners, reporting on what services they could provide for the renovation of the Exxon Building as a temporary courthouse.

Garcia said they were a full service company and could do all the work, ranging from asbestos abatement to providing all of the engineering and constuction because their team works as one during the entire design and construction phases of a project. CAS, comprised of nine companies, offers mechanical, environmental, and construction services. Garcia and Moses are based in Harlingen.

Garcia, who serves in the business development, said they could complete the projected and get it within a $2 million budget.

He also said CAS did not need an architect for the asbestos removal and this would save the county money.

“An architect charges six to eight percent of job,” Moses said.

“Give us an idea of what you want to do with the building and someone who oversees the project,” Moses said.

The Exxon Building has 38,000 square feet and is worth $1.2 to $1.3 million dollars, according to county officials. The square footage could be compared to two football fields. The renovation of the building would need mechanical and electrical systems replaced while the floors; roof and windows would only need minor touch ups. One of the main problems would be removing the asbestos found mostly in the floors and would cost $150,000 for this project.

This information was discussed at the Nov. 23 meeting of the Commissioners Court when Killis Almond and Associates of San Antonio discussed the renovation of the Courthouse. The firm created a master preservation plan that was presented by and approved by the Texas Historical Preservation Program. Almond stated that in order for the county to be eligible for the Texas Historical Courthouse Preservation Program, the courthouse would have to be restored to its original state when it was first built in 1914. Major construction modifications would have to be met.

The county is considering renovating and using the Exxon Building during the renovation of the courthouse should that transpire.

The old building, located on Fifth Street, would serve as a temporary workplace for courthouse employees and county offices while the courthouse is being restored.

During Monday’s presentation, Garcia and Moses, were asked if they had seen a building in a condition like the Exxon Building. Garcia replied their company saw worse buildings in New Orleans after the hurricane Katrina devastation.

“The prices are very competitive right now,” Moses said.

Precinct 4 County Commissioners Romeo Lomas asked the men if they would agree the county could build a building with 38,000 square foot.

“You could build a metallic building on a slab for about $1.5 million,” Moses replied.

Lomas has been vocal that he does not support the renovation of the Exxon Building and considers this a waste of the taxpayers’ money. At the meeting he also suggested, “to tear it down like the coliseum.”

Garcia told the Commissioners Court they could have a turn key on the asbestos abatement by Oct. 2010.

De La Garza said they were not in a hurry but Precinct 2 County Commissioner Norma Alvarez said they need to do something with the Exxon Building as soon as possible.

“We need to do something to fix the Exxon Building whether we use it or not or sell it,” she said.

(Kleberg County sold certificate of obligations this year for $6 million. Of this money, $2 million would be used for the Exxon Building; $2 million for jail expansions; $1 million for park upgrades; $600,000 matching funds for restoration of the courthouse and $400,000 unrestricted funds).

Moses said they would do the preliminaries, but they wanted a commitment from the county.

Prior to the presentation, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted on a resolution to include the grant application for the Texas Historical Courthouse Preservation Program supporting the efforts of Kleberg County to execute restorations of the Kleberg County Courthouse. De La Garza said they would not be eligible for money for the coming year and THC can take up to four years to allocate grants.