County Judge Wilburn Bednar and County Treasurer Alan Dierschke (who is also a county historical commission member) recommended to the commissioners’ court Dec. 13 that the county postpone installation of a central air conditioning and heating system in the courthouse. The system approved by commissioners last month would require that all first-floor ceilings be lowered. Bednar and Dierschke, along with contractor Eddie Quine, recently met with Lyman Labry of the state historical commission regarding the matter. Labry said there are possible fines of up to $10,000 per day for altering an historically designated building without the state historical commission’s permission.
Bednar and Dierschke also reported to the commissioners court that the $32,000 system which Quine had been selected to install might have to be torn out if and when the courthouse gets state funding for a historical restoration, and the money spent would not be credited as part of the county’s share of restoration expense. The central air and heating system which would be required in an historical restoration would be less intrusive to the building’s structure than the one Quine had planned to install.
In July 2000, Glasscock County submitted a Master Plan to the state historical commission and applied for funding of historical restoration of the courthouse and the old jail (which was the courthouse at one time). That application is still active, but has not been funded. Dierschke said Labry was optimistic that funding of Glasscock County’s restoration would be available within four to six years.
Labry stressed the importance of keeping the county’s application for state funding current each year. He said unless grant applications are kept current, a county could be funded for the amount it asked for five years ago, but that money might no longer be adequate for the work. Glasscock County’s 2000 application was for $1. 3 million.
The state plans to restore all eligible courthouses to their original condition, while equipping them as modern work places, not simply preserving them as museums. State grants are to pay for 80 percent of the restoration costs, and individual counties will pay 20 percent. Dierschke said approximately 50 courthouses have been restored so far.
There is no requirement that a county do any courthouse restoration at all — it can choose to do nothing. County Commissioner Hugh Schafer said the county should poll voters to see whether they even want the courthouse and old jail restored before it commits to spending several hundred thousand dollars on any such future project.
Dierschke said the courthouse and old jail are historical county buildings, and while the county is not required to restore them, he said it must at least take care of them. He said the old jail is in bad shape due to water that for years occasionally collected around its foundation. The building “wicked” the moisture, eventually causing interior plaster and some concrete to deteriorate. He said the standing water problem has been corrected, but repair work is badly needed.
In a related matter, in January the commissioners’ court, as required by state government code, will appoint a seven-member county historical commission, with appointees serving two-year terms. Interested persons should contact Judge Bednar or a county commissioner. The county commission is now composed of Helen Wilkerson and Dierschke.
Linda Avery asked county commissioners on Dec. 13 to extend County Road 135 for a short distance and to consider at least maintaining Private Road 1355 south to CR 110. She said the county road, the condition of which is bad and worsening, now has five families living on it. Commissioner Michael Hoch said he would check with landowners Dennis Seidenberger, Larry Halfmann and Rory and Carey Niehues about acquiring a 30-foot easement.
County Judge Wilburn Bednar reported that he had received information from a siren supplier regarding possible sources of grant money for a warning siren in Garden City. He was to check with the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission about a grant.
The commissioners’ court approved four possible appointees as the county’s representatives to the county appraisal district board: Michael Hoch, Hugh Schafer, Ernie Schwartz, and Mitchell Jansa. If they agree to serve, three of these men will be appointed.
The court took no action regarding a letter requesting a resolution supporting a coal-burning electrical generating plant to be built in West Texas. As a by-product, the plant would produce carbon dioxide (CO2) for use in the oil patch.