District Judges Fear Bait & Switch; Won't Trade Columned Courthouse for Windowless Walmart

SAN ANGELO, TX -- District Judge Barbara Walther told Tom Green County Commissioners Tuesday the District Judges are concerned their temporary courtrooms in the former Walmart building at 3020 N. Byant would become permanent because of the cost of renovating the courthouse.  

Commissioners were considering approving a contract and proposal from Kinney Franke Architects for schematic design drawings for the district  court relocation project remodeling space in the N. Bryant facility that houses the Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace office and the Community Supervision and Corrections Department.  

Judge Walther told the court the district judges have some serious concerns.  “We are deeply concerned that there is not adequate money to provide for the restoration of our courthouse.”

Walther said the cost of the temporary courtrooms has gotten so high that they are worried the temporary courtrooms would become permanent.  

Walther said she has served in the Tom Green County courthouse for 30 years and the economic impact of moving the courts would be staggering.  

County Judge Steve Floyd said he wasn’t aware of any plans to make the temporary courtrooms permanent. “I am totally  unaware of any conversations about permanently relocating the courtrooms anywhere else.”  

After the discussion, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the $16,000 agreement with Kinney Franke for design of the rennovations.  

The County will go out for bids on the project once they have the schematic design drawings.