In Oct. 16-22 Issue

Work is proceeding, though the meeting isn't, regarding the new Russell County Judicial Center.

The monthly meeting of the Russell County Property Development board was canceled this week. Circuit Clerk Tony Kerr said they were not yet ready to award the bid for a contractor to begin demolition on the square.

Contractors were on the square this week examining the buildings to be razed to make room for the new courts' building.

David Mousie and Mike Bossert with ATC Associates of Cincinnati inspected the buildings earlier this week, and found some problems.

Bossert said the petroleum tank at one of the buildings would have to be dug out.

Mousie said he also found asbestos in one of the buildings.

"That will have to be removed by a company licensed to do that work before the building can be torn down," Mousie said.

Though the men were not finished with the examination late Tuesday they said they'd found no other problems.

Kerr said the worries about the present economic situation had not effected the project. There had been some speculation that the tough bond market nationally could make it difficult to sell the bonds needed to finance the rest of this and many other projects around the state.

"The sold just fine," Kerr said.

Once the inspection report and other paperwork is completed the board will be able to advertise for bids for a contractor to tear down those buildings and begin grading for the new building to hold the clerks office as well as all the judicial courts in the county.