June 11th, 2010
County to take RPTP bids and offer dispute resolution classes

STAFF REPORT

Hays County officials have announced that their construction contractor for the addition to the Hays County Resources Protection, Planning and Transportation (RPTP) office at 2171 Yarrington Road in San Marcos will hold a pre-bid conference on June 18 at 9 a.m. at the Yarrington Road site.

County officials said Flynn Construction, Inc., is interested in hiring local and regional companies and individuals in the areas of sitework demolition, site utilities, concrete, masonry, millwork, waterproofing, doors, glazing, drywall, flooring, painting, specialties, coiling doors, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire alarm systems. Construction is expected to begin in July and continue through the end of 2010.

For more information, or to submit a bid, contact Kaley Simon at (512) 440-7643 or KSimon@flynnconstruction.com. Her fax number is (512) 440-0705. Bids will be due by noon on July 6. Plans will be available on CD or online at www.flynnconstruction.com (email Kaley Simon for username and password) beginning June 22.

Also, county officials announced that the Hays County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) is offering classes in interest-based negotiations designed to promote “win-win” problem solving.

The four-hour class will be offered twice, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 30, at the DRC, which is located at 829 North LBJ Drive, No. 108, in San Marcos. Cost is $50 and attorneys, social workers and mental health professionals could qualify for continuing education credit.

“This training helps those involved in personal or professional negotiations to focus on the interests of both sides and bring about a win-win conclusion to the situation,” said Anna Bartkowski, director of the DRC. “In win-win negotiations, both parties acknowledge each other’s interests as well as their own and attempt to develop solutions that give both sides as many benefits as possible. Too often, negotiations fail because of a win-lose mentality, in which each party tries to gain as much for itself as possible without regard to the needs of the other side.”

Trainers will present strategies for negotiating with an uncooperative person and will offer techniques that can neutralize attacks, negating the need for counter-attacks which could derail the negotiation.

For more information, contact the DRC at 512-878-0382 or director@hcdrc.org.