The Wharton County Courthouse was built in 1889 in a Second Empire style as designed by noted Texas architect Eugene Thomas Heiner. The county capitol was rededicated in 2007 following a restoration project that included the demolition of the 1940s additions that had surrounded the building. The renewed exterior resulted in a replicated pressed metal shingle roof and a clock … [Read more...] about Wharton County Courthouse
Feature Story
Legislative Changes Impacting County Procurement
When the Texas Legislature meets, there are always changes that impact procurement. If you search the statutes, you will see that these changes have already been incorporated into the language. If you search the individual bills, you will more easily see the changes that were made, https://capitol.texas.gov/. The Big Change! SB 1173 increased the formal bid limit for … [Read more...] about Legislative Changes Impacting County Procurement
Courthouse Preservation Program Receives $100 Million
Grant Applications Now Open; Master Plan Deadline March 13, 2026
The Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) is accepting Round 14 grant applications. To be eligible to apply, counties must have a THCPP-approved master plan filed with the THC before March 13, 2026. All requirements and the timeline for THCPP Round 14, along with how to prepare a master plan, can be found on the THC’s … [Read more...] about Courthouse Preservation Program Receives $100 Million
Resolution Spotlights
Legislative Interim Ideal Time to Share County Story With State Partners
In his first official remarks as CJCAT President, Parmer County Commissioner Kirk Frye asked his fellow members of Texas Commissioners Courts to join him in a pledge. “We often look at the legislative interim as the ‘off season,’ ” Frye observed following his installation at the October CJCAT Conference. However, when it comes to communicating with state partners, there is … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlights
Above and Beyond
CJCAT Convenes in Galveston for Annual Conference
Nearly 300 County Judges and Commissioners convened in Galveston for the 103rd Annual Conference of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, where officials discussed the latest issues affecting grassroots government. Keynote speaker Alex Weber, television host and competitor on American Ninja Warrior, opened the four-day meeting with multiple references to … [Read more...] about Above and Beyond