Fannin County, Texas -- Fannin County Commissioners Court held a workshop Wednesday, July 2, 2025, to get a firsthand look at issues with the restored 1888 courthouse and the results were encouraging.
While it isn't hard to spot minor problems in the 24,000 square-foot building -- grout cracking, paint overspray, caulking that needs to be touched up -- the serious issue of water pooling away from the drain in the basement would appear to be a relatively easy fix.
More than a year ago, in May 2024, Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to budget funds for concrete work in the basement to ensure that any water that seeps into the basement will flow to the drain properly. When that work is completed, the problem should be alleviated.
Stopping the water from seeping into the basement will take a little more work. The problem seems to be strictly on the south side of the building and it may require the installation of a French drain all along the south side of the courthouse to carry water away from the building. French drains are necessary in some situations to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations.
While the initial plan was to restore the courthouse for $17 million, it ended up costing approximately $28 million, which is 60% over budget.
By comparison, the Justice Center was estimated to cost $11 million and the current estimate is more than $16 million, which would be close to 70% over budget.
