The Van Zandt County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to conditionally accept a Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program grant from the Texas Historical Commission. The grant totals $9,576,428 and is for restoring the historic VZC Courthouse. The vote was taken at the court's regular meeting on Oct. 21.
Acceptance depends on voter approval of a bond proposition scheduled for May 2027. The court authorized VZC Judge Andy Reese to sign related documents. Reese said the county applied for the grant in April 2026 and was notified of the award on July 31. He said the county has 90 days after an award to accept or reject it.
Reese said the project's actual cost is a little over $24 million, which would leave the county owing roughly $15 million. He said the bond election would cover that amount and the renovation of a courthouse annex, formerly the Paul Michael building, for county use. Reese said the courthouse would need to be vacated for two to three years during the restoration.