Commissioners select Texas-side company to replace Bowie County Courthouse roof

NEW BOSTON, Texas-Bowie County commissioners agreed Monday to hire a local roofing firm to replace the roof on the county courthouse.
Commissioners selected RBT Roofing Division of Texarkana, Texas, to replace the courthouse's original roof for $191,225.
The roof, which is the original roof from when courthouse opened in 1985, is now 32 years old and leaking water in several places inside the building's front area.
Last week, Bowie County Judge James Carlow appointed a committee to study the bids before it reported back to the commissioners on Monday. The committee included Bowie County Auditor William Tye, Bowie County Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Whitten and Vicki Cox, the county's building maintenance officer.
During their special meeting Monday, Precinct 3 Commissioner James Strain asked when the firm would be able to start work, to which Tye estimated perhaps in four or five weeks-following some potential drainage work that will need to be conducted.
Whitten said that once the work is completed, the manufacturer will come out and inspect it.
Following some additional discussion, three of the four commissioners approved hiring RBT with one commissioner, Precinct 4 Commissioner Mike Carter, abstaining after mentioning that he had a relative who worked for the firm.
The Commissioners Court listened to the bid offerings during their March 13 meeting. Some of the other roofing bidders included: Curtis McKinley of Longview, Texas; John S. Goodwin of Center, Texas; Final Touch of Hot Springs, Ark.; and Wright Brothers of Texarkana, Ark. The bids from the other companies generally ranged from $191,000 up to as high as $590,000.