Historic sites closer to needed repairs
Bastrop County commissioners have taken a step toward beginning repairs to three of the county’s historical buildings after damages from Hurricane Harvey.
A county review committee is negotiating a contract with the historic preservation consulting firm Architexas that would repair storm damages on the county’s historic jail, the courthouse and a building at 901 Pecan St., which houses the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office.
Architexas was selected from among a pool of eight firms that responded to a request for proposals issued in February. Created in 1978, the firm has worked on 12 historic county courthouses in Texas, as well as several other residential, religious and governmental buildings across the state.
Due to the three buildings’ historical status, the county is required to get an assessment of the buildings before any federal grant funding can assist with the damages, according to county officials. The assessment will produce a detailed report of all repairs needed within the three buildings and cost estimates.
A steering committee composed of six county employees —including County Judge Paul Pape, County Engineer Carolyn Dill, General Services Director Shawn Harris, Purchasing Agent Leon Scaife and County Auditor Lisa Smith — will begin pricing negotiations with Architexas.
The Commissioners Court gave the steering committee authority to execute a contract with the firm as long expenses fall within the standard set by the state.
The county is also submitting a separate application to win grant funding for repairs on the historic jailhouse through the state’s Texas Preservation Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program, a reimbursement program that requires no local match. Bastrop County’s application will request $40,000 for repairs to the jailhouse’s first floor, officials said.
Grants awarded through the program this year are aimed at rehabilitating historic projects that sustained damage due to Hurricane Harvey within the 60 disaster-declared counties.
The program made nearly $250,000 available for emergency grants; however, only about $50,000 is available, said County Planner Julia Cleary.
In February, the historic jailhouse was evacuated and closed after the building tested positive for asbestos in its interior.
“How timely and appropriate is this?” Pape asked.
The county is in the process of developing an asbestos abatement plan, though no funding proposals have been brought before the commissioners.