OWNERSHIP OF HISTORIC ROUND TOP COURTHOUSE IN QUESTION

  

The fate of the Round Top Courthouse is up in the air as a question has arisen over who owns the over 100-year-old facility.

Discussion was sparked after Round Top Mayor Judith Vincent made comments during a recent interview with the Fayette County Record.

Due to safety concerns, Vincent talked about renovating, or a worst-case scenario rebuilding the Courthouse prior to the 250^th birthday celebration of the United States on July 4, 2026.

According to Fayette County Attorney James Herbich, the Courthouse is still owned by the County.

Herbich said that there is a record of former County Judge Dan Beck signing a deed that transferred ownership of the building from Fayette County to the town of Round Top, but there is no record of the Commissioners Court authorizing the transfer.

During a Fayette County Commissioners Court meeting on February 13, all four current commissioners expressed a desire to preserve the courthouse, and not demolish it.

The Round Top Town Council met that afternoon and decided to hold off on their renovation project until after the Fourth of July Celebration in 2026.

Council members also agreed to restoring the Courthouse intact, and not to demolish it and then rebuild it.

At the request of residents in attendance, the Council is expected to have an agenda item for their next meeting to put it in writing.