Dateline: April 24, 2003

Gifts to county fund more courthouse work

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Donley County Commissioners last week approved three proposals totaling $65,569 for additional work on the 1890 courthouse.

The county authorized spending $14,200 for wooden window shades to be stained to match the trim in the courthouse and $1,369 to recreate four end pieces to complete the theatre-style seats in the district courtroom.

The most significant new work will be spending $50,000 to restore and repair stonework on the building. The focus of this will be on the main entrance to the building and on the stones in the worst condition on the east side of the building.

The court also agreed to set aside up to $6,000 to be used to refinish antique tables that were originally in the courthouse and voted in favor of getting estimates for installing a sprinkler system for the courthouse square.

Funds for all these expenditures will be taken from money which has been donated to the courthouse restoration project from private sources.

In other county business during the court’s regular meeting last Monday, commissioners approved Tax Assessor-Collector Wilma Lindley’s request to attend a conference in Houston this June. Expenses for this trip are to be reimbursed by the Texas Secretary of State.

The court accepted bids on tax delinquent property on three lots in Howardwick.

The county entered into a contract with Fixed Asset Management to help the county prepare an inventory for new GASB guidelines.

A request from County Clerk Fay Vargas to use records management money to purchase plat record binders and plastic envelopes was approved.

The county policy manual was updated regarding overtime compensation, and the court approved an agreement for the rental of two radar units for the DPS.