Volz chosen as architects

By Jackie Boyd, Clarendon Enterprise

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court chose Volz and Associates, Inc., for architectural services on the Donley County Courthouse Preservation Project during a special meeting Monday afternoon.

The commissioners’ court re-viewed three applicants for the job, including Steve Stewart of Amarillo; Volz and Associates, Inc., of Austin; and CSG of Lubbock. 

Volz and Associates was decided to be the best firm for the job.  Besides being the most experienced in courthouse restoration, they have also been in business the longest with 22 plus years of experience primarily on historic structures.

Two courthouses the Austin firm has helped restore are those in Gonzales and Blanco counties as well as working on the Governor’s Mansion.  Volz and Associates also prepared the Master Plan for the Donley County Courthouse.

Part of the proposal submitted by Volz and Associates stated that as the construction progresses, they will make periodic site visits to observe the progress of the work. 

Volz also will require monthly progress meetings at the courthouse with the owner, the contractor and subcontractors to coordinate the work, discuss problems, and to insure that the contractor’s pay request reflects the percentage of completion.

The next step of the project is to initiate contract negotiations with Volz, and the commissioners voted to authorize Judge Jack Hall to begin that process.

Also in the meeting, John Kiehl, regional services director for the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC), presented information concerning the administrative tasks involved with the implementation of the Donley County Courthouse Preservation Project. 

Kiehl proposed that the PRPC would have an ongoing relationship with the project and oversee the grant work and contract negotiations.  A formal proposal will be sent to the commissioners’ court to be decided on at a later date.

Kiehl and Judge Hall will travel to Austin next Wednesday to meet with the Texas Historic Commission (THC) regarding guidelines for the Courthouse project.

Two weeks ago, Donley County was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the THC to completely restore the 1890 Donley County Courthouse. The project is expected to last about two years.