Corsicana —
For several months, county commissioners have been studying a possible renovation of the Navarro County Courthouse.
Studying is set to end on July 23, when the four commissioners and county judge are expected to vote on whether or not to accept about $4.5 million in state assistance for the project, or give up the grant offered by the state.
Also looming in the decision-making process is the possibility the courthouse restoration program, which has seen cuts in its budget over the last several years, could be eliminated entirely.
In a May 2012 update to commissioners, Susan Gammage of the Texas Historical Commission said the funding made available that includes the Navarro County grant was only made available “at the last minute” by the 2011 legislature, after having been cut entirely — a fate she said could happen again next session.
At that same meeting, Karalei Nunn, an architect for the firm that has been working with the county on the proposed project, said waiting longer could increase costs of the project event more.
“If you wait another five years, it could be $15 million,” she said, instead of the estimated $9.1 million now.
Plans for the restoration work itself have been completed — also thanks to a state grant — but the logistics of the project, which would involve relocating the functions of the courthouse during the two-year restoration period still need to be finalized, as does where the county’s share of the restoration costs, about $5 million, would come from.
Those decisions can come later, but the already extended deadline to accept or turn down the grant is expected on the July 23 commissioners agenda.
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Daily Sun FILE photo/Michael Kormos The statue of Jose Antonio Navarro keeps watch over the Navarro County Courthouse in Corsicana. The county has qualified for a state grant to partially fund a restoration of the 107-year-old structure, and must decide this month if it will proceed with the project that would cost the county $5 million in matching funds plus relocation costs during the work.
Discussion
Restoration vote nears
Commissioners to decide on state project July 23
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