Dateline: February 27, 2003

County adds more work to courthouse

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Donley County Commissioners this month approved contract changes to allow more work to be done on the restoration of the 1890 Courthouse.

In a called meeting on February 12, the commissioners’ court authorized Change Order #6, which provides for exterior electrical outlets and additional outlets in the district courtroom, finish work on the third floor stairwell, replacing sidewalks near the courthouse, and additional chimney braces among other things.

The court approved contract changes with the project architects reflecting the added work and voted in favor of a contract with NTS Communications to run phone and computer cabling.

The court met again in a called session on February 21 and approved Change Order #7, which covers constructing a judge’s bench in the district courtroom to match original woodwork, replicating tile for restored fireplace hearths, repairing and preserving the large stained glass window on the first floor, and replacing sidewalks near the Courthouse Annex.

Funding for the changes is coming from grants and other sources which were obtained last fall. The cost of replacing sidewalks near the Annex will be offset with in-kind labor from the county.

In other business, the court met in regular session February 10 to take care of several items on their agenda.

The 2001-2002 county audit was presented by Gordon Maddox and approved by the court.

Following a presentation by Dee Dee Autry, the county agreed to join the City of Clarendon and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation in supporting the Texas Prairie Rivers Association’s marketing plan.

The court approved renting a new radar for the sheriff’s department and authorized the purchase of a new computer in the county clerk’s office. Commissioners also authorized Tax Assessor/Collector Wilma Lindley to attend training next month.

Four names were drawn from the Grand Jury list to serve on the grievance committee. The people previously selected did not agree to serve.