The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved at its February 19 regular meeting a capital project improvement plan list totaling nearly $180 million, and authorization was given to have a a request for proposals released for funding sources.

  The vote came on the heels of a February 13 special called meeting in which assistant county manager Brad Johnson outlined maintenance needs for a few dozen county buildings as well as needed new construction and vehicle replacements. Technology improvements and a handful of major new projects were also discussed.

  The list Johnson presented February 19 for board action allocated $7,077,500 for maintenance and repair; $4,435,000 for vehicles; $3.4 million under the heading “morgue, sidewalks, technology”; $60 million for buildings and technology related to the courthouse; $5 million for a new jail pod; $60 million for a convention center/arena; and $10 million for an amphitheater

  Commissioner Bruce Holmes directed that the figure for the convention center be changed to $90 million and made that part of his motion.

  Johnson told the board that the county staff wanted to give Davenport, the consultant, permission to solicit Requests for Proposal (RFPs) “for someone to come back with a plan of action on how to move forward with these.

  The jail pod was identified as an immediate need, as was the courthouse. After Superior Court Judge Brian Amero addressed the board earlier in the meeting on that subject, Johnson noted that there are now nine different court facilities in the county, which he called “a security and public safety nightmare.

  Some of these projects could appear on the final list for the SPLOST V referendum that is expected this fall. That list should be finalized in the next 2-3 months.