Hidalgo County receives certificate of occupancy for new courthouse

The city of Edinburg has issued Hidalgo County a certificate of occupancy for the new courthouse, the county said in a Tuesday news release.

The project — long beset by costly delays — initiates the process of opening the new courthouse for public use.

“We know this has been a long time coming and we appreciate the public’s patience,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in the release. “But as we have said, out objective was to ensure the public’s safety in the most cost effective manner possible. We believe we have fulfilled that objective.”

A visitor walks along a path near the new Hidalgo County Courthouse under construction on Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com)

The step now sets the stage for the Texas Jail Standards Commission to schedule an inspection of the holding facilities at the new courthouse to ensure they comply with state jail regulations.

“Upon approval by the State, the building will be handed over to Hidalgo County,” the release stated.

Following this step, the county will begin the process of moving hundreds of employees and millions of legal documents into the new courthouse.

“Once the physical transition is accomplished, then the process of officially opening the facility for public use will occur,” the release stated.

The county said it has already begun the “necessary steps” related to the demolition of its current courthouse.

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