Commissioners approve permanent lighting in courthouse parking lot for downtown Christmas program

The Liberty County Commissioners Court approved Nov. 7 a request to allow the Lights and Liberty organization to place a large, permanent light in a county-owned parking lot adjacent to the Liberty County juvenile probation office on Trinity Street for a five-week downtown Christmas program.

The presiding official described the courthouse grounds as unable to host decorations this year and said the parking lot is dark, so the lot would be used to provide additional public lighting during the holiday program. “Consider an approved placement of a large light in the county owned parking lot next to the Liberty County juvenile probation office located on Trinity Street by the Lights and Liberty organization for the purpose of providing additional lighting of downtown area for the public during the 5 week Christmas program,” K. said.

Commissioners discussed whether decorations could be done voluntarily to avoid county expense; staff and commissioners agreed volunteer efforts were acceptable. One official noted the county estimated a cost of about $35,000 to put lights on the courthouse grounds and said courthouse needs are lower priority than other county obligations. “The cost for putting lights on the grounds like was proposed was, well, about $35,000,” K. said.

A motion and second carried unanimously to permit placement and allow volunteers to assist with decorations; the court did not commit county funds for courthouse decorations at this meeting.