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County expected to submit agreement over ADA violations
http://www.caller.com/news/local-news/commissioners-to-talk-beach-improvements-state-programs_15988177
Nadia Tamez-Robledo
8:42 AM, Oct 8, 2014
CORPUS CHRISTI - Nueces County officials plan to have their response to a federal ADA review in Department of Justice hands by November, but determining when fixes can be made is turning out to be harder than expected.
Tyner Little, ADA coordinator for the county, on Wednesday told the Commissioners Court the Justice Department on Monday accepted Nueces County's time table for completing ADA upgrades.
"We've been extremely busy over the past few months," he said. "I think we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."
Nueces County will have 30 months to make the changes once it signs a contract with an independent licensed architect who is approved by the Justice Department, County Judge Loyd Neal told the Caller-Times.
Commissioners in August selected an architect with years of ADA compliance experience, but Neal said the Justice Department wasn't satisfied with wether he was up to speed on extensive changes made to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010 and later.
Neal said Little and ADA consultant Crystal Lyons, whose hiring was approved in August, have contacted architects in and outside the state searching for one who can meet strict Justice Department standards.
Despite that challenge, Neal said the process is moving in a positive direction and commended everyone involved in responding to the review.
"We're making excellent progress because we put together a team that's really committed to doing this, and doing this right," he said.
It's been about two months since the Justice Department issued the review documenting hundreds of ADA violations, which ranged from doors with thresholds that are too high and inaccessible jail showers to lack of Braille signs. Things like signs can be taken care of quickly, Neal said, but an architect is needed to assess construction projects. The county does not yet have a cost estimate for the work, he added.
Little said he will present more details on the county's settlement agreement for the Justice Department at the next meeting Oct. 22
http://www.caller.com/news/local-news/commissioners-to-talk-beach-improvements-state-programs_15988177
Nadia Tamez-Robledo
8:42 AM, Oct 8, 2014
CORPUS CHRISTI - Nueces County officials plan to have their response to a federal ADA review in Department of Justice hands by November, but determining when fixes can be made is turning out to be harder than expected.
Tyner Little, ADA coordinator for the county, on Wednesday told the Commissioners Court the Justice Department on Monday accepted Nueces County's time table for completing ADA upgrades.
"We've been extremely busy over the past few months," he said. "I think we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."
Nueces County will have 30 months to make the changes once it signs a contract with an independent licensed architect who is approved by the Justice Department, County Judge Loyd Neal told the Caller-Times.
Commissioners in August selected an architect with years of ADA compliance experience, but Neal said the Justice Department wasn't satisfied with wether he was up to speed on extensive changes made to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010 and later.
Neal said Little and ADA consultant Crystal Lyons, whose hiring was approved in August, have contacted architects in and outside the state searching for one who can meet strict Justice Department standards.
Despite that challenge, Neal said the process is moving in a positive direction and commended everyone involved in responding to the review.
"We're making excellent progress because we put together a team that's really committed to doing this, and doing this right," he said.
It's been about two months since the Justice Department issued the review documenting hundreds of ADA violations, which ranged from doors with thresholds that are too high and inaccessible jail showers to lack of Braille signs. Things like signs can be taken care of quickly, Neal said, but an architect is needed to assess construction projects. The county does not yet have a cost estimate for the work, he added.
Little said he will present more details on the county's settlement agreement for the Justice Department at the next meeting Oct. 22