County officials say church portion of courthouse is deteriorating; CYS relocation options being explored

Lawrence County commissioners said Tuesday the former church portion of the county courthouse building has deteriorated to the point that restoration would be expensive, and county leaders are exploring alternatives, including relocating Children and Youth Services (CYS).

Commissioner Kennedy said a structural engineer from Gibson-Thomas inspected the building at no charge and advised that, while the church portion could be restored, the cost would be much higher than the county can presently afford. “The ceiling of the church ... is falling off, from years of deterioration,” Commissioner Kennedy said, adding that the entire church side is in disrepair.

Commissioner Sonata said a local architect who toured the building reached conclusions similar to the engineer’s assessment and that the building had continued to deteriorate between the two visits. Commissioners emphasized safety for county employees as the top priority; the commissioners said employees are no longer working in the older church section and that the newer mental-health portion of the facility remains in use.

Commissioners said they are in an exploratory stage, performing due diligence and receiving complimentary inspections, and that no county funds have been spent on the assessments. “We will continue to do our due diligence,” Chairman Vogler said. The board discussed seeking options that minimize county costs, including locating CYS in another building if feasible. No formal decision was taken; commissioners said further study and options development will continue.