Johnson County authorizes purchase steps for Alvarado property and transfers $5 million to Precinct 3 courthouse fund

In executive-session follow-up actions announced Dec. 22, the Johnson County Commissioners Court approved several steps toward acquiring property at 10400 East FM 917 in Alvarado and authorized a major intra-fund transfer for courthouse construction.

By unanimous vote the court approved a farm-and-ranch contract for about 15 acres at the address and authorized the County Judge to execute the contract and any necessary documents to finalize purchase. The court also authorized payment of earnest money — $10,000 of earnest money plus a $250 option fee, a total of $10,250 to Capital Title — and directed the treasurer to make payments at closing.

A commissioner clarified the payment breakdown during the vote: “That’s 10,000 of earnest money and $250 of option money,” (speaker 2). The court then approved an additional motion authorizing the county treasurer to pay any funds necessary at closing.

The court also approved transferring $5,000,000 from the annex building construction fund to the Precinct 3 courthouse construction fund and authorized that fund to be used for expenditures related to the project. All motions carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The authorized purchase steps move forward a county property acquisition, and the $5 million transfer signals a substantial capital commitment to the Precinct 3 courthouse project. The payments and contract authority allow closing and title work to proceed promptly.