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

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.