Annex to be rennovated

However, a project committee led by operations development manager Bob Hohe decided last week to recommend the full restoration of the annex along with the courthouse.

On Tuesday night Wilburn joined in the unanimous BOC votes to approve both a $277,612 contract with Sunbelt Builders for the replacement of the annex roof and a $147,680 contract with J.J. Morley Enterprises for mold remediation.

It is unclear exactly how much funding is available for the ambitious restoration project that could include not only the courthouse and annex but also the former jail that adjoins the courthouse via an underground tunnel.

BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood at the May 17 committee meeting pushed for a recommendation about the jail but the panel opted to wait until it becomes clear how much money is available and how much the renovations of the courthouse and annex will cost.

As of January, the county had spent only $130,500 of the more than $3.3 million budgeted for the project out of $58 million in bonds issued in June 2005 for the construction of several facilities.

However, Hohe said last week that the funding for the project could exceed $4 million. He and CFO Rose Kisaalita have been poring over years of records to nail down the funding figure.

Still undecided is exactly how the renovated office space in the courthouse, annex and former jail would be used.

The original plan called for the sheriff’s office to occupy the entire annex, but Smith has asked only for the use of the top two floors of that building.

One commissioner has mentioned the possibility of moving the BOC offices to the historic courthouse and holding future commission meetings in the former Superior Court courtroom.

Hohe said the project committee – comprised of BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood, a few other commissioners and county staff – would soon look at how to program the renovated office space.

The sheriff is not on the committee and has not been personally invited to attend the meetings. However, he attended last week’s meeting and raised concerns about the lack of air conditioning on the second floor of the historic courthouse where 12 of his patrol command members are sharing three temporary offices.

The next committee meeting is at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, in the conference room on the second floor of the county administration building on East Broad Street.