Taylor County commissioners approved an engineering study, focused on the Abilene Law Enforcement Center at 450 Pecan. The 43,000-square-foot center, the site of a former department store, was once shared with the Abilene Police Department, and has been damaged by a shifting foundation and water issues, including an underground stream beneath the property.

The county commissioners okayed paying up to $64,500 to Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. for a building assessment. The new report will follow up a 2014 study conducted by the same company, which revealed several issues, even as the building was safe and structurally sound.

“A lot of concerns were expressed by employees concerning safety,” County Judge Downing Bolls told the Abilene Reporter-News. “There were places where the wall was separating from the floor.” Bolls added that the upcoming assessment should indicate how much it will cost to stabilize and/or fix the building.

Pictured: Taylor County Courthouse, Abilene, TX. Photo by Larry D. Moore

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Amy Sorter