Jonesboro mayor says Justice Building closed after rafter damage; staff and court operations temporarily moved

Jonesboro Mayor announced at the July 1 City Council meeting that the Justice Building on Washington is closed after a routine inspection found damage to a rafter, and the city has begun temporary bracing and employee relocations.

The mayor said immediate bracing was under way so a more thorough structural examination could be completed and that the city has asked an insurance investigator to inspect the damage. "This is a very fluid situation with safety being the priority," the mayor said. The mayor said the investigator was expected in Jonesboro the day after the council meeting.

The mayor told council members the building has a history of maintenance issues and that the city has already started planning to move operations to new facilities tied to the funding for a planned 911 center. The mayor said some city employees who worked in the Justice Building have been temporarily relocated and that the city is working with Judge Marvin Day and District Court Judges Bolling and Fowler on accommodations for court operations.

City staff described the cause of the damage as under investigation; the mayor said it may be weather-related but that the insurance inspection will determine cause and repairability. The mayor said it is possible repairs could be impractical depending on the investigator's findings, and the city will share updates with council as they become available.

The mayor asked for safety to remain the priority while staff proceed with short-term accommodations and planning tied to longer-term facility funding already in place for the new 911 center.

Less critical details: the mayor also reviewed other routine local calendar items and community events during the meeting and invited council members to upcoming neighborhood cleanups and Independence Day fireworks events.