[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6551275,"mediaKeyId","5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2","parentId",5345916,"title","Waller County courthouse nears completion; commissioners approve bell tower automation and Third Floor design funding","audioSeconds",2396,"startMs",2010000,"endMs",4406000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2&start=2010&end=4406","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2/thumbnail_2010000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551275/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-courthouse-nears-completion-commissioners-approve-bell-tower-automation-and-Third-Floor-design-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551275-d0e3969785aeca7f53708d2b3317504c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448313&Signature=P3mljnWqG9UaLH~HvecIKHyvi7k9-2UBzloJVnOaYX6uJnnCtVDFTQNqhOsFrs6j~6pZGvo00Bz9-i2AL6LCJLN~Erso6oHSbX84JDKu-Td5LUWw4oG8BtQs~YLP4JdOxTOqPkn3AUU4pphIZCQ0RGrXkWPxyU3eZFhq4TzfgVoFOsRzh79gRk1cp3UoQbs5R257pZuKEdhx602IBJ~ZnBa8GkD25tHHti-gzx4jlMJAGKNMkFgfevPJVYk4SF4CSV7OvZ8M5MJ5pbfE5mmUBr8FOw7xZS46uQ1dc-81F3~I9wXyDL8pJLzCQd~uE6eU3MU~qwlAJztrRWXhzEkZvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waller","date","2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","article","Waller County officials on July 9 received a detailed construction update on the new county courthouse and approved several related items, including a full automation and chime package for the courthouse bell tower, courtroom furniture, and design authorization for a Third Floor courtroom conversion.

Construction update and schedule

Project representatives provided photos and a walkthrough of recent work: windows and stonework are largely complete, the cupola and roofing are finished, and interior millwork and finishes are progressing across multiple floors. Project team members said window water-penetration tests had been performed and that the front sidewalk would be a thickened slab to accommodate heavy lifts and service equipment.

Bell tower automation

After discussion of long-running mechanical challenges with the tower's original clock mechanism, the court approved by voice/hand vote the contractor's recommended Option 3, a $38,000 package that will automate the tower, re-enable the bells to physically ring, add a GPS time-sync kit and speaker/chime capability, and allow programmable schedules (for example to silence night hours). The presenter said motors and other components will be added but the original mechanism and historic elements will remain. The court approved the full package \"so you can have the bell literally have the bell ring when we want the bell to ring,\" a commissioner said during discussion.

Furniture, pews and modulars

Commissioners approved a $25,002.96 bid for courtroom pews (item 36) and awarded a larger courthouse furniture package that came in about $68,000 under the $878,003 budget. Staff noted two soft-cost items had exceeded estimates (concrete testing and a camera system) but overall the furniture package was significantly under budget. The court also reviewed progress on district clerk and district attorney modular buildings and interim parking and utility work.

Third-Floor courtroom authorization and early package

The court authorized schematic and construction-document design services and an early construction package for under-floor plumbing and electrical work for the courthouse's Third Floor. The design authorization was for approximately $303,000; the project team presented a schematic construction budget for the Third Floor finish-out at about $3,200,000. The plan would convert the previously reserved \"shelf space\" into two courtroom suites (a larger courtroom sized for an 84-person gallery and a reduced-capacity courtroom sized for a 6-juror trial), judge chambers, DA offices, jury deliberation space, secure circulation for jurors and staff, and supporting workrooms. Presenters said the schedule would aim for a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) in November and substantial completion in roughly six months thereafter.

Other notes and next steps

Project staff said some work could be scheduled as early packages to reduce disruption to occupied floors (for example ceiling and under-floor plumbing). The county will continue coordination for landscaping, window protection netting above the cupola, generator sizing and testing of the installed systems. Commissioners were told the new building had generated local interest and that quality materials such as zinc roofing were expected to provide a long lifetime.

The court voted on related procurement and construction pay applications during the meeting and instructed staff to continue design and scheduling work to minimize daytime disruptions during court and county business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waller - Commissioners Court - Jul 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Waller County commissioners approved automation for the courthouse bell, awarded furniture within budget, and authorized design and an early construction package for a Third Floor courtroom conversion with a schematic budget of about $3.2 million.","taxTitle","Waller County, Texas","taxId",54097,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551280,"Commissioners hold public hearing on commercial replat; question 25-foot access easement",421,1593000,2014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2&start=1593&end=2014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2/thumbnail_1593000.jpg","/articles/6551280/Waller-County/Texas/Commissioners-hold-public-hearing-on-commercial-replat-question-25-foot-access-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551280-c02f475ca16dcf41309e71ad29960f59/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448313&Signature=CfHsbO0h9nV65rGMrUcaI67bo27NjLfmaXUwV5xWJPehtXutcHXcOgiV3GORaUp8sA0DV4XXjQ0B2AiIQ91PWG50dZhGggtctPmgyWoeA2YaBQaMwOZp8Zx~9yDRMLwMjWVVmmnI-T~wDWCqJm78Wrx2ilOygKCtb-i3uFXFufmHzZtyX1Y-r9imLQtMn6T61LFUZ8RBEhyk5LUVzSudMjrcbiiaAacEk1t1ZoS00GS4nvmgerbktSZOmYKMK8rK1HSgQKhuQ18AWmgxs14tswTdaNGGwHPMnEQ9xio0~dlbrHOPEBxCTrwTEXNjGuCsdyE-W-YvKcYwimRULRUSpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County Commissioners opened a public hearing July 9 on a replat request for a roughly 3.5-acre commercial tract in Quixote Business Park and discussed whether a proposed 25-foot access easement would provide adequate emergency access for a rear lot.

County planning staff member Ross briefed the court on the request, saying the replat would divide the parcel into a 1.24-acre front lot and a 2.175-acre back lot, with a 25-foot access easement providing access to the rear parcel. He said detention would be handled in the larger development and that the split was similar to prior commercial divisions.

Several commissioners said they were concerned about the width, noting that a 25-foot easement equates to two 12-foot lanes and asking whether two fire trucks could pass each other on a 25-foot access drive. \"Driveway. Can you get 2 fire trucks past each other in 25 feet?\" one commissioner asked during the hearing. Ross replied the 25-foot figure had been presented as half of a 50-foot frontage and that it had been used in prior commercial divisions.

Commissioners also compared the commercial easement standard to the county's residential flag-lot frontage rules (a 50-foot frontage, with variances issued previously). One commissioner asked why commercial lots were being allowed a narrower access easement than the county requires for residential flagpole lots, and suggested staff prepare recommendations to align standards for commercial and residential access.

No formal vote on the replat was shown in the transcript; the public hearing was opened and then closed at 9:34 a.m. The court asked staff to follow up with recommendations and, if needed, bring suggested revisions for consistent access standards back to the court for consideration.","Court opened and closed a public hearing on a proposed replat in Quixote Business Park that would split a 3.5-acre commercial tract and create a 25-foot access easement to serve a rear lot; commissioners raised emergency access concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551285,"Waller County sees millions collected; commissioners approve higher collection fee",942,354000,1296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2&start=354&end=1296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2/thumbnail_354000.jpg","/articles/6551285/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-sees-millions-collected-commissioners-approve-higher-collection-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551285-6123736f3cdc555e97c26b86856e4d4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448313&Signature=VFJX65m5eX3XIE5lLIeZOPeRpdtmZAHnrvj8Iac2Yh4Yfc-VpSvwBl8FkcE4tR1RtldyTq2nhdJFm9QZKgW5S73kQ3OUlyik9IYl2GEE2aUTSnrtMcwURFWxmckP3vlkJNiEmPPjSqGdx0w9X2EyLwILkvcO5XiKBWrDCVWXBTfCpgslBXgOaOtxk5d9jW9ZuWm0pKqRxBsTgCkfsscoFvlHT0pCoNcBuq-BdhDpvzI5fgPhFz04tNDUeMBzXKGHojd4vf8RqlP780aE~yfSr-jqiT2W-as4Qf~bg2l6-bhnw6F3u0c3S20AuYSsGOY-F3UaCztU0YBTgm3Os-ZwLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County Commissioners on July 9 heard a report on delinquent tax and court fine collections and voted to raise the county's collection commission rate from 15% to 20% for delinquent tax turnovers.

The change, approved unanimously by voice/hand vote, followed a presentation by a representative of the county's delinquent-collections contractor and a monthly report by the tax assessor-collector.

The contractor, identified in the meeting as Atelio Gonzalez of the firm Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, told commissioners the firm's work had helped the county recover recently when a planned auction threatened to remove heavy equipment from the county. \"We secured approximately 90,426 for the 2025 year taxes both in Waller County and the other county entities,\" Gonzalez said, describing coordinated action with the tax office and county deputies. He also told the court the firm's \"services are at no cost to the county.\" The presentation showed the county's total outstanding tax base through May at roughly $2,300,000, and that the 2023 delinquent year (the most recent assigned) had been reduced by about two-thirds (66.61%) through May.

Tax Assessor-Collector Carolyn Lehi delivered the monthly collections report, saying May collections totaled about $1,058,000 and June collections about $644,000. Lehi said she had negotiated a small reduction in merchant fees charged to cardholders, cutting the pass-through fee from 2.35% to 2.25% for taxpayers who pay with credit card.

Commissioners asked about collection limits and uncollectible accounts. The collection representative said the tax office has statutory authority to remove real-property taxes from the roll after 20 years of delinquency and personal-property accounts after 10 years, and that a separate statute of limitations affects filing suit; the contractor said the statute of limitations on suit for personal property can be four years.

The court then voted on two agenda items (23 and 24) that, as presented, increased the county's delinquent tax turnover fee from the longstanding 15% to 20% to match an industry standard the vendor described as more common across Texas. Commissioners said the increase would help cover rising operating costs for collection services and might increase incentive for delinquent payers to resolve accounts.

Ending note: Commissioners also approved several related procurement and consent items earlier in the meeting; the collections vendor told the court the office is using additional methods including text messaging and address-research resources to contact delinquent taxpayers.","Waller County received an update on delinquent tax and court fine collections and voted to raise the county's collection commission from 15% to 20% for delinquent tax turnovers and related items.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551270,"Waller County moves toward issuing up to $10M in tax notes; reimbursement resolution approved",498,6932000,7430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2&start=6932&end=7430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345916-15092e6f77fcc71cf75a95b186d782b2/thumbnail_6932000.jpg","/articles/6551270/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-moves-toward-issuing-up-to-10M-in-tax-notes-reimbursement-resolution-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551270-59238d2801138f9f8f52760a3d051300/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448313&Signature=SVgPDxaovyawQjp9p-T~jwwdNgFHWZpLasZ1Nr6FYZI7m2fdtI-rcljJSKNvR1sun2oqKzJ6hWdMi5lgZ2QXHr86P53s8v4ymjsvWcLVkkMT64chvhHAIoZvkuxJ8970NP8tgIBdPWkxvih~hN7OLnjJ--GgeigKCBakQgEVCeWG6O9Zvn31bHhDxtJ93hFpf8TYz1v5KDiIMUlpibnoB58rF~0WoWi~K1DyLwznSyCofV7aPh55ZFARSLAnYbN1OiPaN~p66ukxMGa~BDBzrKyabQJ5qTcSJrQN-ABiDvsfmDTNhJhmodAPfkCy8vVOtH3aBA3PU3q4qiVhVdIdsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County commissioners on July 9 signaled support for pursuing tax-backed notes to finance several near-term capital needs and approved a reimbursement resolution that will allow the county to spend from fund balance now and recoup eligible costs from note proceeds later.

Financial plan and intended uses

County advisors presented a tentative package of capital needs for possible financing: maintenance facility construction, land purchases for Precinct 2 and Precinct 3, negotiation of adjacent property near the Justice Center for potential probation and related services, and other one-time capital items. Staff and the county's financial advisor, Ben Rosenberg of US Capital Advisors, discussed the difference among financing tools (general-obligation bonds, certificates of obligation, and tax notes) and recommended tax notes for a shorter-term borrowing need. The advisers recommended a competitive sale to the public market and suggested a not-to-exceed issuance amount of $10,000,000 to cover the list of anticipated acquisitions and projects.

Reimbursement resolution

Commissioners then approved a resolution authorizing reimbursements from future tax-note proceeds for eligible project expenditures the county might incur between the date of the resolution and the issuance of the notes. The county attorney and finance staff explained the resolution is a common municipal finance practice that preserves flexibility to start design or procurement work while the sale is prepared. The court voted in favor of the reimbursement resolution.

Next steps and schedule

Advisors outlined a timetable: prepare offering documents and seek a credit rating (if pursued), schedule publication and sale in coordination with court meetings and property-tax-rate actions, and return to the court in August with final terms or in the coming weeks with more detailed documents. Rosenberg said market-rate estimates place short-term note yields in a range that would likely be lower via a competitive sale than a private placement, and that the competitive approach would likely save the county money over a private placement for this $10 million amount.

Ending note: The court did not finalize a bond sale at the meeting but gave staff direction to proceed with the schedule and present formal sale documents at a future meeting prior to the county's final tax-rate action.","Commissioners gave staff direction to pursue tax notes to fund property purchases and capital projects and approved a reimbursement resolution allowing the county to pay eligible project costs from fund balance and later reimburse from note proceeds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waller County courthouse nears completion; commissioners approve bell tower automation and Third Floor design funding

Commissioners hold public hearing on commercial replat; question 25-foot access easement

Waller County sees millions collected; commissioners approve higher collection fee

Waller County moves toward issuing up to $10M in tax notes; reimbursement resolution approved