Resident criticizes courthouse construction timeline and bond costs; commissioners acknowledge ongoing work

During open forum, resident Fern McClarty told the Commissioners Court she viewed the new courthouse as still under construction and questioned the county’s fiscal choices. McClarty said the courthouse “is not finished and it is not nearly finished” seven years after the 2019 groundbreaking and asked why the county sold $50 million in bonds and is now paying significant interest. “The county is paying $33,000,000 in interest on bonds,” she told commissioners, and said rising budget totals risk increasing poverty.

County staff and the executive office responded on the record that audits, fund reports and warranty work are ongoing and that staff would follow up with the county auditor to ensure accurate public reporting of fund reports. No formal motion followed McClarty’s remarks; the matter remained a public comment and prompted questions by commissioners about transparency and next steps for financial reporting.

Other open-forum speakers raised neighborhood concerns: Frank Vallejo urged faster branch and brush pickup, repairs to solar streetlights, and sidewalks near schools to reduce pedestrian risk; Ramona Mercado thanked the court for newly installed LED streetlights in her neighborhood and invited commissioners to a March 20 community dinner to celebrate the improvements.