County loses courthouse grant bid

Colorado County Commissioners will go back to the drawing board for courthouse restoration projects and a county annex building.

It was announced Monday morning during the regularly scheduled commissioners court meeting that the county did not receive the $6 million Texas Historical Commission grant. The grant application was submitted Nov. 16 by Volz & Associates, Inc. out of Austin. The grant funds, if approved, would have helped with the cost of much needed courthouse restoration projects.

The good news is that while Colorado County did not receive the $6 million initially requested it was identified as one of two counties that might possibly receive a planning grant later in the funding cycle. Colorado County Judge Al Jamison said the county may receive approximately $400,000 at a later date, but that has not been 100 percent confirmed yet.

Judge Jamison said regardless the county would move forward with restoration and annex plans since the county had enough funds in reserves to begin some of the restoration projects.

No hard numbers were given, but Judge Jamison said an annex could cost an estimated $6 million, with the courthouse restorations costing around $2-3 million.

"Let's do the things we have to do to the courthouse without moving anyone," said Jamison. "The roof is a must, electrical is essential, window panes are a priority and the courthouse needs to be washed down to its original state."

Now that commissioners know what time and funds they have available, Judge Jamison said this would not be a quick, two-year project.

"I'm looking at a long-range project."

He requested that commissioners consider issuing certificates of obligation for the restoration and annex.

When asked what kind of tax increase this could mean for taxpayers, Judge Jamison said he didn't have any definite numbers but estimated an initial increase of .03 cents for around $9 million worth of certificates for 30 years.

Citizens' annex committee chair Travis Wegenhoft told audience members the estimate was based on a steady growth in the county's tax base.

"There's been a 7.5 percent growth in the tax base in the last 10 years and really strong growth the last three or four years," said Wegenhoft.

Judge Jamison explained how the county's tax base increasing lets inflation work for the county instead of against it.

"Our ad valorem tax rate is based on the value of property and homes in Colorado County. The total amount 10 years ago was $900 million and at that time one penny equated to $90,000. This past year the total value was $1.5 billion, consequently one penny equates $150,000 of revenue," explained Judge Jamison. "So somewhere down the road if the tax value doubles one penny can create $300,000 in revenue."

He also mentioned that if structured properly, the county could look at putting funds aside for road improvements.

Colorado County Commissioner, Pct. 2 Herbie Helcamp stressed the county's need for road improvements.

"We have some awful bad roads," said Helcamp. "I think we need to see what needs to be done. I know we may not be able to fix all the roads but we need to look at all the situations and prioritize."

Judge Jamison and Colorado County Commissioner, Pct. 1 Doug Wessels agreed that the county's roads needed attention.

Colorado County Commissioner, Pct. 3 Tommy Hahn expressed urgency on repairing of the courthouse roof.

"The first objective is this building."

Commissioners, along with the judge, agreed that the citizens' annex committee headed by Wegenhoft, should step back and take a look at plans for both the annex and courthouse restoration.

The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program awarded funds to 14 counties and three emergency awards totaling $56,597,445. A reserve of about $4.5 million remains for additional planning work, emergencies and/or contingencies. There were 47 counties, which vied for funding from the $62 million appropriation. For a full scoresheet on all counties that applied and received funds visit www.thc.state.tx.us/courthouses.

Drawing a crowd Monday during court was the recognition of Glidden resident Raymond James Heine. Born in Nada, he moved to Glidden in 1948 and still lives there. Heine was honored for his many civic contributions including, but not limited to, serving on the county's Historical Survey Commission, being a charter member of the volunteer EMS program, working on several Glidden celebrations, volunteering at the food pantry and driving friends and neighbors to chemotherapy units in Wharton and Houston.

He more recently served on the committee that planned and monitored construction of the county's EMS facility on Radio Lane and oversees that the historic Glidden Baptist Church facility is in working order.

In other business the Court: