Jackson County approves up to $25,000 more for courthouse renovation after downspout redesign

The Jackson County Commission on July 28, 2025 approved an increase in available funding of up to $25,000 to cover a change order on the Jackson County Courthouse renovation, commissioners said. The additional funds will cover a redesign of the building downspouts and associated site work that reduced the original contractor estimate by more than half but left the project $23,000 over the previously authorized allotment. County staff and the engineer said the redesign ties the downspouts back into existing drainage and reduces the amount of concrete cutting and new drains required. The matter drew staff explanation and a short discussion before the commission moved to set aside rules and vote. The county engineer told commissioners, “To cover the, 23,000, I think tonight we need to ask for a full amount to 25,000 increase in budget availability to cover that.” The commission approved the increase without recorded roll-call votes on the motion in the meeting record. Commissioners and staff also outlined unfinished work at the courthouse annex and other project sites. Contractors still must install an exterior handicap lift and perimeter safety fence at the courthouse entrance, finish sprinkler-system connections at the front of the building and install hallway cameras the county said. Those cameras must be in place before portions of the building are opened for public events, staff said. Separately, staff described a possible need for a radio relay or repeater to ensure first responders can communicate inside the renovated courthouse. The county engineer said fire and building inspectors had not indicated a final code-driven requirement but cautioned that a communication system could be needed; staff said no price is available yet and that any required work on the radio system would be presented to the commission for separate approval before being funded. The county also reported progress at a related facility on Liberty Lane and ongoing site seeding and landscaping. Overall, staff said the courthouse renovation is nearing completion aside from the listed items. What the commission approved was the funding increase; any additional work tied to the radio/communication system will be considered later and would require a further request and vote. The commission scheduled further project updates in future meetings.