According to Anita Collins, Executive Assistant for Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra's office, the sidewalks and tree roots were becoming a tripping hazard and needed to be replaced.
"Instead of replacing those [parts of the sidewalk] that needed to be replaced, the Texas Historical Commission said they had to be all uniform, so that ended up making it to where we had to replace all of the sidewalks on the inside perimeter of the courthouse grounds and then on the outside perimeter we were allowed to replace those that needed to be replaced," Collins told Community Impact.
Construction will demolish the uneven, cracked sidewalks to prepare the dirt for new sod in the interior courthouse grounds, according to a press release. Collins also noted that the Americans with Disabilities Act entrance to the courthouse grounds will be demolished on Friday, June 23. The concrete will be poured on June 26 and will not be ready until June 27.
The details
Vista Planning and Design surveyed the grounds and provided the design. That design was routed through the Texas Historical Commission for approval before construction began. Diamond Landscaping and Lawn Care and Myers Concrete were awarded bids to work on the grounds.
The cost
The overall cost for the improvements is roughly $374,490 and some change, which is funded through the county's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #5.
The costs associated with each improvement is as follows:
- Sidewalks, $168,890.48
- Landscaping, $196,399.75
- Tree removal, $9,200
June
- Landscaping demolition work begins
- All sidewalks inside courthouse grounds will be removed, replaced
- Sidewalks on outside perimeter will be repaired and replaced as needed
- Ground preparations for new landscaping
- Palisades Zoysia Sod, Asiatic Jasmine, Indian, Hawthorn Indian Princess, Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Red Spider Lily planted
- Heavy watering of sod and plants
- No activities on the courthouse grounds
