County approves plans for Precinct 3 JP office project
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

The preliminary plans for the construction of the proposed Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 office were approved by Wharton County Commissioners Court during Tuesday's meeting.

The commissioners met a day later than normal to accommodate the Memorial Day observance.

As proposed, the office will be a 40- foot-by-80-foot structure located at the intersection of U.S. 59 Business and Colorado Street.

The exterior of the building is designed to resemble the exterior of the First State Bank of Louise, which is located on an adjacent property and sold the site for the new building to the county.

The design was shown to the court by Precinct 3 Commissioner Philip Miller and Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Dennis Korenek.

Miller said the next step will be the preparation of the completed plans followed by going out for bids.

The commissioners also approved a name change from Oliva to Olivia for a street in the El Campo area.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Kainer said the street had always been referred to as "Olivia," had that designation in the city limits but had apparently been misspelled in the county records.

He said he had received a number of phone calls complaining about the error in the name.

The commissioners also approved allowing county Environmental Control Officer Mark Sommer to apply for a HGAC grant for a new patrol vehicle, a four-wheel drive pickup, that would be 100 percent paid for if the grant is approved.

The commissioners also approved spending $575 out of their own budget to purchase a framed aerial photo of the Wharton County Courthouse.