County to consider architect for courthouse repairs

Moving forward with repairs to the 1890 Courthouse will be among the agenda items Donley County Commissioners will consider when they meet Monday in a called session.

Donley County Judge John Howard said commissioners will consider qualification proposals from architects during the meeting. After an architect firm is scored and selected, the county will negotiate with that firm for services to oversee repairs to the water damage caused by February’s winter storm and ensure that the work is done to the standards expected by the Texas Historical Commission.

The judge said the damage is covered by the county’s insurance, but it is likely to be expensive because the cost of materials and labor has gone up.

Howard also said that in discussions with the THC, it is possible that county could be awarded more money for courthouse restoration work and that part of that work might be focused on the sandstone around the base of the building, which has had a problem with spalling.

Preservationists had hoped to address that problem almost 20 years ago when the courthouse was restored, but the work at the time was cost prohibitive.

Howard says it’s possible that technological advancements may now help the county permanently solve that problem.

The county will also be looking to replace the HVAC units in the attic, one of which was the source of the water leak that destroyed the county attorney’s office and caused damage throughout much of the building earlier this year.

In other county business, commissioners met in regular session July 12 and continued discussions on overtime pay and compensation for sheriff’s deputies and county jailers/dispatchers. Howard said county officials are still working out the details of those issues.

The county is developing a paid leave quarantine policy for those exposed to a communicable disease while on duty, which, Howard said, the county was doing in practice anyway. County officials are also considering revisions to its holiday pay policy.

Commissioners approved allowing the clerk’s office to charge a $10 records archive fee and approved allowing employees in the clerk’s office to attend election law training.

Special annual budgets for the district attorney’s office were approved, and the county voted to reappoint Judge Willis Smith to the Texas Panhandle Center Board of Trustees.