Dateline: November 15, 2001

Conference outlines courthouse work   

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Work continues on the restoration of the 1890 Donley County Courthouse following a pre-construction conference hosted by the project contractor.

Dale Sellers, president and CEO of Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, Ltd., addressed sub-contractors and county officials Monday and gave an overview of the project.

Phoenix officials are looking to hire local people to help with the project and are encouraging their sub-contractors to do the same. Craftsmen may call Phoenix at 214/902-0011 or contact any of the subcontractors to apply to work on the project.

Hiring local help should insure that some of the money of the $3 million project gets pumped into the local economy. Phoenix had lunch catered by a local restaurant Monday prior to the conference.

Most of the subcontractors are from the Panhandle area, and Sellers said all of them are reputable, financially sound companies capable of carrying out the work. Electrical work is being done by Cherry Electric, Inc., of Childress, Scottco Mechanical Contractor, Inc., of Amarillo will handle the plumbing as well as the heating and air-conditioning work, and Richard Obenhaus of Lubbock is the carpentry subcontractor.

Dee Brown, Inc., of Garland will handle the new masonry work, particularly on the tower’s third story. Sellers said Dee Brown is one of the best stoneworking firms in the business and has been responsible for stonework on high-rises in Dallas.

The general contractor will handle other specialties, such as concrete restoration, paintings and finishings, and ornamental metals.

Phoenix 1 is currently involved in nine courthouse projects around the state; and Sellers said that although his company has a 12-month contract, he expects the Donley job to be completed in eight to nine months.

Safety and communication between the general and sub-contractors were the focus of Monday’s meeting. Sellers emphasized a team effort to complete the project quickly and economically.

Phoenix has a safety rating 70 percent better than the industry average. Safety meetings for employees will be held weekly. Drug and alcohol use will not be tolerated, and food and drink will not be allowed in the building to prevent damaging surfaces undergoing restoration. Smoking will be prohibited in the building.

The courthouse will be swept down daily to keep the building as clean and as safe as possible.

Phoenix employees will work eight days on for 10-hour days and then have six days off.

Items to be accomplished right away on the courthouse include removal of the remaining windows next week. Footings will be poured for the new tower this week.