Commissioners go forward with hospital move

Milam County Commissioners are moving ahead with a potential move of county offices out of downtown Cameron.

The voted 3-1, with Precinct 2 Commissioner Donald Shuffield being the dissenting vote, to enter into an interim lease of the former Central Texas Hospital building.

County Judge Steve Young said the building plans are expected to be complete on Dec. 1 and the county hopes to go out for bids for the project beginning that day.

Young said he expects the cost to be roughly $2.7 million to renovate the complex for the county’s needs. The interim lease agreement calls for a $1 a month lease payment for the building along with the cost of utilities, maintenance and taxes.

The plan is for the county offices in downtown to relocated to the former hospital building in a trade of nine buildings and two lots for the hospital building and an adjoining lot. Young said the Milam County Health Department will remain downtown for the time being until the county decides what to use the empty lot for.

During the meeting, commissioners also set the tax rate at 73 cents per $100 valuation, the same as last year. Young said revenue collected will go up due to valuations on property in the county being on the rise. 

In other business commissioners also: approved the salaries for the auditor and court reporter; approved county and district court fees; approved delinquent property tax collection contracts; approved a re-platt of unsold lots in the Highland Vista subdivision; appointed election judges.