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Historical society seeks funding help to make upstairs courtroom accessible; county staff say ceiling and lighting materials available
Summary
A historical society representative told the committee that ceiling tiles and lights for the old courthouse are in storage from a Tennessee Historical Commission grant and asked permission to investigate funding for a chair lift to make the upstairs courtroom accessible; the society said it was not asking the county for money at this time.
A representative of the county historical society addressed the committee Aug. 7 about renovation work at the old courthouse and a possible funding source to make the upstairs courtroom accessible.
The speaker said ceiling tiles and lights were purchased through a Tennessee Historical Commission grant and are currently in storage; that grant was identified as the source of funding for ceiling and lighting work planned to match earlier museum-room installations. The speaker asked whether the committee would permit the society to investigate grant or philanthropic options to purchase and install a chair lift (described in the meeting as a device to give people who cannot climb stairs access to the upstairs courtroom) so the courthouse could be used for school groups and other programs.
The historical society representative said, “We're not asking you for any money or anything like that right now,” and clarified the inquiry was to learn whether the committee would object to pursuing external funding before the society prepared a grant application. Committee members expressed general support for the idea and noted elevator installation would be expensive and could affect historic character; one member said elevator work would likely occur next year if pursued.
Staff and the speaker also discussed bathroom plumbing constraints and ADA compliance for upstairs spaces; the society noted older plumbing and the potential for ADA specifications to complicate bathroom upgrades. No county funds were requested or committed at the meeting; the committee did not take a vote on the society’s investigation request.
