County eyes $2.8M in additional grant funding for courthouse project

UNEXPECTED BONUS — The Texas Historical Commission approved an additional $2.8 million in funding for the Wise County Courthouse restoration project.  Commissioners will vote to approve the additional funding Monday. 
WCMESSENGER/BRENDAN MARCHAND

Wise County Messenger
By Austin Jackson 
on August 10, 2023

Commissioners will vote to accept an additional $2.8 million in funding from the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for the Wise County Courthouse project Monday.

The nearly $3 million bonus comes after legislators approved $45 million in additional funding for THC’s Courthouse Preservation Program.

The added state investment is benefitting future projects as well as previously approved projects, like in Wise County, where the initial estimate was dwarfed by the actual amount needed to complete the restoration due to rising construction and project costs. 

The original estimate was around $9 million for the project in 2021. In June, after months of haggling, county commissioners approved a $14.6 guaranteed maximum price with Premier Commercial Group for the restoration.

“It’s great news for us and it was completely unexpected, but it’s very welcome and appreciated,” said Wise County Judge J.D. Clark.  “It’s a reflection of the commission sitting to see that this project is important enough, and want to continue to invest in it to get it over the finish line. The reality is that with any kind of building projects, costs are up.”

After the original $5.2 million grant awarded last summer, and a previous $837,753 in planning grants, the county will now receive slightly more than $8. million from the Texas Historical Commission for the project. The county is also using $3 million of its American Rescue Plan allotment for the courthouse restoration. 

Clark said the county had set aside building and grounds capital to cover additional courthouse costs. Now with the additional funding, the burden on that funding source has been substantially relieved.

The grant will come before commissioners for approval Monday. There is no match for the additional funding, Clark said.

At the meeting, commissioners will also go over the preliminary budget and hear the proposed tax rate. Clark said the budget will include increased funding for public safety, roads and prosecutors and a decreased tax rate.

The meeting is 9 a.m. Aug. 14 in the JP Courtroom (North Entrance) at 200 Rook Ramsey Drive.