The Willacy County Courthouse was built the same year that this newspaper began publication--1920. Next year both will celebrate 90th birthdays. The Chronicle/ News moved into a newer building 15 years ago, but the county courthouse has had only cosmetic improvements over all of this time.

On Monday afternoon county commissioners voted to apply for grant funds from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to totally remodel the aging structure that has water in the basement every time it rains. The building has a leaky roof and window units are used to cool the various offices. Witnesses in county and district court cases stand in a crowded hallway which has no airconditioning while waiting to testify.

Commissioners hope to change all that by spending $4.5 to $5 million for remodeling. That's not chicken feed and of course the county doesn't have that kind of money.

Acting county judge Aurelio "Keeter" Guerra explained to commissioners, "The Dept. of Agriculture has $24 million available for grants that are 100 percent. We have already applied and now we need to advertise our construction plans."

Guerra said the county courthouse must be entirely vacated during remodeling and employees will be moved to other offices. Where? Guerra explained that the interior walls of the old county jail across the street from the courthouse, have been knocked down and removed. By refinishing the old jail interior ample office space can be provided.

The cost of this part of the project could be $250,000, he estimates. "These two projects go hand-in-hand," Guerra said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to advertise construction plans and to go out for bids to install partitions in the old jail to provide office space.

In a related motion commissioners agreed to appoint a new County Historical Committee. Those named include: Eddie Chapa, Eliberto Guerra, Orlando Correa, Cristina Correa, Eloise Campbell, Maria Million, Zeke Cavazos, Tonyre Thomas-Joe, David Joe, Zeke Cavazos, Clark Allen, Glen Harding, Cissie Watson, Beto Guerra, Mike Wilson, Calvin Johnson, John Bradford and Ruth Regan.

Officers are Cruz Tijerina, president; Steve Million, vicepresident; Sonia Tijerina, secretary and John Buffo, treasurer.

"We needed to do that to move forward with the courthouse restoration project," said Judge Guerra.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

Commissioners voted to pay Guerra for the job he is doing as the acting county judge, a position he has held since being appointed on Sept. 14.

On a motion by Erasmo "Eddie" Chapa commissioners voted to vacate the $24,351 Pct. 4 commissioners position and to pay Guerra the $33,770 salary of the county judge, effective with the begining of the new budget on Oct. 1.

The motion was made by Commissioner Chapa, who commented, "We need to compensate you for the job you are doing as the acting judge and there is an additional $5,000 stipend you will get when you come back from training."

Chapa was referring to money the judge is paid to hear county court, which Guerra will do after attending state training sessions. County Court is now being heard by retired state district judge Menton Murray of Harlingen.

However, according to the general fund salary schedule the stipend is $15,000, not $5,000.

In his old job as Pct. 4 Commissioner Guerra was getting about $10,000 in benefits and he will now get about $15,000 in benefits.

Commissioner Alfredo "Fred" Serrato mentioned that Pct. 4 won't have a commissioner for a while, after Commissioner Chapa said that Guerra can't hold two jobs at the same time.

"We want to help you (in Pct. 4) but with the rain we got weeds and we have torn up roads and we can't help very much," said Serrato.

Going back to the top of the meeting agenda, Commissioners voted to apply for a $14,364 indigent defense fund grant from the state. Becky Chapa estimates the county spends $280,000 annually to defend inmates who don't have the money to hire lawyers.

Pct. 4 will still have a Justice of the Peace after Commissioner voted to re-appoint Judge Juan Salinas to the job on an unpaid basis. He resigned recently to attend to family financial problems. It was necessary for him to resign to acess county retirement funds to address his personal problems.

Judge Salinas agreed to perform the duties of the position at no cost to the county. This arrangement will be brief as commissioners agreed to re-appoint Judge Salinas in November. He will be out one month's pay, about $1,583.

Commissioners agreed to donate $3,000 to Amigos del Valle. President of the organization is Emilio "Junior" Vera who commented, "We provide nutrition and housing for the elderly."

During the time the county had financial problems Vera said commissioners did not give $11,000 it would have given under normal circumstances to the organization.

Finally, commissioners approved travel plans.

Maricela Salazar and Gloria Puente of the district attorney's office will attend training on dealing with crime victims. The county will be reimbursed by the state for the cost of the travel, according to Bernard Ammerman, district attorney.

And Ammerman will attend a conference in Fort Worth, from Dec. 2-4. He will be reimbursed for the 3-day training that prosecutors get.