Halifax County approves $36,000 for structural assessment of Court Services Building third floor

The Halifax County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 20 to appropriate $36,000 from contingency to fund a structural assessment of the third floor of the Court Services Building.

County Manager Dia Denton said the county secured roughly $8.25 million from the state to upfit space for growing court‑related staff and other county tenants but that inspectors and engineers raised concerns about the existing structure’s ability to bear new loads. Mosley Architects submitted a proposal for a two‑step structural evaluation; staff asked the board to authorize step one so the work can begin and engineers can model load capacity.

Denton told commissioners the $36,000 expense would come from contingency; project funds would be used for any subsequent work required to make the space code‑compliant. Commissioners discussed the possibility that reinforcement costs could exceed the available state appropriation and said they want options if the study finds the third floor cannot be economically used. County staff said they may seek an extension of state grant timelines or request reallocations if necessary.

Commissioner Sewell moved to appropriate contingency funds for the assessment; Commissioner Baird seconded. The motion carried unanimously.