Wilkerson Resigns Historical Commission
At the March 14 meeting of the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court, County Judge Wilburn Bednar read letters of resignation from former county historical commission chairman Helen Wilkerson and commission member Jaynie Branham. The text of Wilkerson’s letter follows:
“Our courthouse has been designated as a state historic property and is considered to be of significant value to the state and to the people of West Texas and Glasscock County. The County Commissioners do not seem to recognize that this beautiful building does not belong to this generation alone but is a treasure to be protected for those coming after us. As a historic property there are guidelines which must be followed to protect and preserve its value to coming generations. The commissioners planned renovations which would have altered the building in unacceptable ways and would have violated its status as a historic site. Had they gone ahead with their plans, the State Historic Commission had the ability to fine the county $10,000 per day as long as the violations remained in place. I pointed that out to the commissioners and believe that is the reason that I was removed as chairman of the Glasscock County Historic Commission at the February 14 meeting of the county commissioners. After 20 years of volunteer service, I was not asked if I would like to remain as chairman despite the several accomplishments of our volunteers, including a Centennial Celebration, the guarantee of state grant funds and the recent placing of the War Memorial and landscape plantings. The County does not fund the historic commission. We have raised our own money and have worked for many donations in kind for the various projects. I take this opportunity to resign from any work on the county historical commission, but I will not relax my vigil upon the future decisions of the county commissioners in regard to our historic properties.”
County Treasurer Alan Dierschke, who was appointed by the commissioners’ court Feb. 14 to replace Wilkerson as chairman of the historical commission, told the court after the letter was read that he took issue with part of its contents. He said, “I don’t think the commissioners’ court wants to destroy the courthouse, but only to make it more operational.” Dierschke said he assumed that Wilkerson was referring to the possible installation of central air and heat, which he said would not have caused a $10,000 daily fine. According to Dierschke, the state architect said the county could go ahead with the installation, but advised against it because the system would probably have to be torn out when a courthouse restoration is funded by the state.
Branham’s resignation letter said in part, “It has been my pleasure to serve on the county historical commission, especially helping with landscape planning and planting. In the past year and a half, I have enjoyed meeting and working with the folks who live in and around Garden City. Unfortunately, I will be unable to accept this year’s appointment to the historical commission due to other commitments.”
Remaining members of the county historical commission appointed by the commissioners’ court Feb. 14 are Dierschke, Pam Hughes and Randy Sanders.