Comissioners approve $400,000 for Cleburne farmers Market (Posted 3/9/2010 01:16 pm)
By Paul Gnadt
Commissioners discussed plans for refurbishing the Market Square area of downtown Cleburne, the area known as Farmers Market, where farmers sell produce to the public.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Rick Bailey claimed a revitalized Market Square will be good for the city of Cleburne as the county seat, provide a safe area for public gatherings such as concerts and flea markets and result in increased sales tax revenue.

Architect Alan Magee projected the cost of the Market Square project to be about $400,000, but there are strategies that can cut that in half, Bailey said.

“We can use prefab buildings instead of building from the ground up and we can save at least $125,000 by using donated labor from the probation department or other sources,” Bailey said.

Harmon expressed concern about the people who currently rent space at the market.

“What needs to be done is to be fair with the people now renting space,” he said. “I think we should enable them to get through the selling season, then ask them to move. We need to give them a 90-day notice.”

Magee sai the project will re-establish the icon that is farmers market and will be completed as inexpensively as possible.

“The pavilion is a metal building and is not a lot of structure. It can be pre -fab and the Johnson County Master Gardeners can do the landscaping,” Magee said.

The court should review and approve the final plans and cost of the project before spending taxpayor dollars on it, Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Beeson said

“Let’s set a maximum price for this and get it done,” Harmon added. “The commissioners court is the contractor for this. We’re in control. Basically, we’re just resurfacing a parking lot and erecting some shell structures.”

Matthews made a motion to proceed with plans to refurbish Market Square after the court reviews the final cost and establishing Sept. 1 as the date the current tenants must relocate.

Beeson seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.