Donley County filed a request with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) on Friday, seeking an additional $73,159.50 in state funding for the restoration of the 1890 courthouse.
The commissioners’ court voted unanimously to make the request in a called session Friday morning.
The money would be used to restore a third story masonry gable on the building’s south façade and a cast iron fireplace in the district courtroom.
Both items were original to the courthouse, but they were unknown at the time the restoration Master Plan was put together in 1999 and were only recently rediscovered. Commissioners agree the missing elements need to be replaced to make any restoration more complete.
If approved, the supplemental grant would cost the county an additional $12,910.50. A decision is expected from the THC by on April 19, 2001.
Additional money from THC became possible when Archer County, which had received a courthouse grant last fall during Round II funding, recently turned back the state money.
Also on Friday, county commissioners discussed the budget of the courthouse project, and a conference call was held with architect Chris Hutson of Volz & Associates in Austin.
Hutson told the court that he is including “deductive alternates” into the construction bid packages, which would give the county options if bids come in over budget. The alternatives would allow the county to eliminate items from the project that would have the least impact on the restoration.
Estimates for the local project are being made based on going rates for historic restorations in the Austin and San Antonio areas. The cost of using construction companies in the Panhandle region may be cheaper.
“This may go to bid and everything be fine,” Hutson said, “but I would rather prepare for it now than [the county] be hit with sticker shock when the bids come in.”
To learn more about the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse, click here.
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