Lincoln County committee tours 1890 Canton courthouse as officials weigh repair versus demolition

A Lincoln County Courthouse Advisory Committee meeting in Canton centered on whether to keep and repair the countys 1890 courthouse or to demolish it and rely on a new justice center. Committee members, county staff and residents toured the building and reviewed an earlier cost study that the county plans to refresh before making a recommendation.

Julie Leon, a county commissioner who addressed the group during the session, framed the committees central task: "The question that we're gonna have to figure out as a committee is do you demolish it or do you keep it?" She said the committee will solicit public comment and use expert cost updates to guide the commission's eventual decision.

John Rambo, the county building and grounds superintendent, told the committee the numbers they had were from a 2020 study and need updating. He outlined recurring maintenance problems, including roof-timber rot, cracking, limited fresh-air intake for the HVAC, occasional water penetration in the basement that has damaged court records, and past bat intrusions. "So at that time, our grand total was to bring it to what we thought was just to utilize that existing space and make it comfortable and safe and long lasting was about $1,600,000," Rambo said, adding that those figures do not reflect recent inflation and that he is seeking updated estimates from architects and engineers.

Rambo gave the committee the 2020 line items he still has on file: roughly $375,000 for structural and architectural repairs, about $715,000 for HVAC and interior systems work, and roughly $545,000 for an interior remodel. He said he has asked architects for separate demolition-only estimates so the county can compare repair versus teardown costs directly.

Members of the committee and the public introduced themselves before a planned walking tour of the building, which was set to move from the basement up to the roof so members could inspect the troubled timbers and interior courtrooms. Architect and committee member Will Stanton described the work as "a unique opportunity" and said he hopes the county's approach could serve as a model for other counties facing similar choices.

Several residents expressed sentimental attachments to the courthouse. Committee member Chad Skiles, a longtime resident who said he has worked in local public safety for four decades, said the building has personal value: "If there's ever gonna be a guy who chains himself to the wrecking ball to save the old courthouse, it's probably going to be me." Other members said they want objective numbers and public input before recommending an outcome.

The committee announced it will take public testimony at its next meeting on the 10th and tentatively meet again near the 24th to review comments and any updated cost figures. John Rambo said he hoped to have demolition estimates from architects within about a month but did not guarantee a timeline.

The committee did not take a formal vote during the session; members completed introductions and the group prepared to begin the in-person tour of the courthouse.

Next steps: committee members will review updated cost estimates (repair and demolition) and public testimony at upcoming meetings before preparing a recommendation to the county commission.