It’s been a long time coming, but the new Waller County Courthouse is now officially open for business. The new facility will house the Waller County Commissioners Court, the tax assessor-collector’s office, as well as the offices of County Clerk, County Auditor, and County Treasurer.

The courthouse complex – built at a cost of about $32 million and an investment of more than 350,000 man-hours – was dedicated in special ceremonies held at 836 Austin Street in Hempstead on November 8 with a standing-room-only crowd in attendance. The new building is on the site of the old courthouse which was demolished a couple of years ago and which could not be renovated, Waller County Judge Trey Duhon said at the dedication. The process of replacing the old building began as far back as 2011, when the county conducted a facilities assessment, he said, identifying five facilities in need of renovation or replacement.

After receiving reports of the foundation of the old courthouse deteriorating in addition to issues with plumbing and air conditioning, the Waller County Commissioners approved the construction of a new courthouse back in late 2022 for $32 million.

As the clock in the new bell tower promptly chimed ten, Duhon introduced local dignitaries and began his remarks. “Every generation has its moment to build something that will last. This is ours. And I believe we’ve built something that reflects who we are today — a county that honors its past, but is focused firmly on the future. This courthouse will be a place where justice is done and fairness is upheld. It will be a place where transparency and accountability guide every decision. It’ll be a place where citizens can come to engage with their government, where public servants can do their work, and where the values of this community are carried out every single day. But it’ll also be a place for the everyday moments — for weddings, for oaths, for small victories and new beginnings. And long after all of us are gone, it’ll still be standing — serving the people of Waller County with the same sense of purpose and pride.”

The building also contains a time capsule, set to be opened on April 28, 2073, in conjunction with Waller County’s Bicentennial.

Dignitaries in attendance at the included Waller County Commissioners Precinct 1 Commissioner John A. Amsler, Precinct 2 Commissioner Walter E. Smith, Precinct 3 Commissioner Kendric D. Jones, Precinct 4 Commissioner Justin Beckendorff, State Representative Stan Kitzman, City of Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele, City of Katy City Administrator Byron Hebert, and former Katy mayors Don Elder and Doyle Callander.