Having wondered already about the fate of a rickety downtown Amarillo (former) office building, it’s now time to inquire about another old building.

This one’s in Canyon. It sits in the middle of The Square. It’s the Randall County “courthouse” building.

I cannot in good conscience call it a real courthouse, because it isn’t functioning as one.

The county asked voters a few years ago whether they wanted to spend public money to fix up the exterior of the 1909 structure. To my surprise, voters said “yes” to that request. So the county did as it was instructed and spent taxpayer funds to finish off the restoration of the old structure, complete with a replica of the clock tower on top.

The inside? Well, it’s as crappy as it has been for more than two decades.

The county has moved all its government functions out of the building.

County commissioners meet across the street in what once was the county jail.

The bulk of the county government operation is at the Randall County Justice Center at the northern edge of town. The district attorney’s office, district clerk’s office, all the district judges, the court at law judges all are housed there.

What, then, will happen to the old “courthouse” building? County Judge Ernie Houdashell has told me many times about deals he’s trying to strike with local entities who might be interested in acquiring the building. City Hall? The Canyon Economic Development Corporation? The Chamber of Commerce? Someone should want to move into a gleaming office building with an exterior that is lovely.

The inside of the place needs work. Lots of work.