By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Commissioner Greg Dunn is now the official point man for Fayette County's judicial complex construction project.

As required in its contract with consultants Mallett and Associates, the County Commission designated Dunn as a single point of contact for the project, to deal with change order requests and act as liaison between the consultants and the county.

He also will act as a central source of information for media and the public during the expected three-year life of the $60 million project.

Dunn will have “authority to transmit instructions, receive information, interpret adn define [the commission's] policies and decisions with respect to [Mallett's] services for the project, and to transmit and receive information from the media and other governmental agencies,” according to the motion naming him as the liaison.

Commissioner Herb Frady argued that county manager Billy Beckett would be the more proper person to represent the county on the project. “I have a problem with this board having one of us... interpret what we want,” he said.

But when his motion to appoint Beckett failed, Frady voted in favor of the motion appointing Dunn, making it unanimous.

Commissioners also authorized a written “notice to proceed,” authorizing Mallett to go forward with planning for the project, which includes adding onto the existing county jail, using the old county courthouse as sheriff's offices and building a new, three-story courthouse with the third floor unfinished.