Historic records in limbo as county building saga continues

Grimes County Historical Commission chair Mary Ann Waters appeared before Commissioners Court a second time March 15 to request use of the former county clerk building for GCHC office space and storage. For the second time, no action was taken pending further discussion of county properties.

According to Waters, the building was constructed in 1910 as the First National Bank of Anderson and is “significantly historical to Anderson.” She added that a Texas Historical Commission marker is being sought.

Waters reiterated GCHC’s need for a place to work and said, “I feel that this building would serve our purpose greatly. It does have historical value. Part of our job is to restore and recover and preserve historical items and archives that are in Grimes County. We cannot do that if we don’t have a place to do it.”

Also attending was GCHC Secretary Kathy Wells who detailed the poor track record of the county as a whole at protecting sites and buildings of historical significance.

Commissioner Barbara Walker asked why GCHC couldn’t use the Becker House, willed to GCHC by the Bill Thomas estate, and Waters replied that it isn’t fireproof and would require $150,000 in repairs to make it safe for occupancy.

Addressing the price tag to make the county clerk building ADA compliant, Wells advised that grant funding exists to “get buildings up and running.”

In closing, Wells described the building’s location on Main Street and across from the historic courthouse as “ideal” as a future museum site.

History revisited

The building’s use was first discussed at the Feb. 1 Commissioner Court meeting when Waters and newly appointed Elections Administrator Rachel Walker each presented their case for the vacated building. 

Waters explained the need for space to catalog historic documents and artifacts, record oral histories and as a future museum. 

While space-sharing had been discussed, Waters said, “She (Walker) was stating that she did not want to give us access to the building - that she wants to retain the whole building.”

Walker expressed her desire to have elections equipment in one location and added, “Based on Mary Ann’s request to open the building to the public for a museum, we’ll have to come back in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and we’re looking at an approximate cost of $200,000 or more to do that.”

Since the March 1 meeting and workshop, The Examiner has learned that Navasota historical documents are also part of the cache in limbo in the locked office.

Seek professional advice

The March 1 workshop about county property, which included use of the building in question, prompted a statement from Richards resident Michelle Gremillion during Public Comments.

Referring to real estate as a taxpayer asset, budgeting and the county’s explosive growth, Gremillion suggested commissioners consider engaging a master plan organization “to provide an unbiased, scientific and fact-based approach to provide projections and determine the ultimate space requirements for the county as it grows.” 

Gremillion recommended seeking professional advice from architects, planners, real estate experts for guidance on what to keep, sell or build “for the highest and best use of benefit to taxpayers.”