With the bid opening last week Branscum Construction was able to deliver a $7.6 million estimate on the construction of a new judicial center.

That figure was over $2 million short of the budget for construction, allowing for some of the alternate bids to be considered.

The Russell County Property Development Board began Monday by hearing from Bill Magruder of Duo County. He reaffirmed the company's offer to sell a small lot to the board for parking at the new center.

Magruder also told the board that all the new lines had been installed and they would be removing the old overhead utilities as soon as the customers were switched over to the new lines.

Purchasing that property for $45,000 as well as paving it was part of the additions to the construction that were approved.

The board also approved requiring 100 percent completion bonding, using limestone instead of cast stone, paving the city parking lot, installing geothermal heating and cooling system and a fountain for in front of the building.

In all, the additions totaled about $309,000, bringing the total to about $7.9 million. Final figures will be presented at the September 1st meeting of the board.

At that meeting the representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts will advise the board whether they can seek bids on a metal roof, rather than the shingled roof in the original proposal.

A ground breaking for the project was set for about 10 a.m. on Sept. 28.