A proposal to hire Manual Stained Glass Studio, Inc., to remove, restore and reassemble the historic stained-glass dome at the Anderson County Courthouse stalled Dec. 30 when the commissioner's court failed to secure a second on a motion to approve the work.

Gary Adams of DRG Architects told the court the work would involve taking the dome down, transporting it to his vendor’s shop in Nashville, replacing broken pieces with matching glass, reinstalling the dome and repairing the supporting cage. Adams said the contract includes a stipulated amount of $573,040. "That is $573,040," he said during his presentation.

County officials reviewed the project scope, timetables and funding. The county had budgeted $1,000,000 for courthouse repairs in the 2023 planning process and officials said about $181,006.64 remained from previously committed funds after roof work. The judge said the county had other contingency and capital-approval funds available but commissioners raised concerns about committing a half‑million dollar project without further review of options and costs.

The judge moved to approve the contract from Manual Stained Glass Studio, Inc., and proposed covering $573,040 with a combination of ARPA and permanent improvement budgets, but the motion "died for lack of a second," leaving no formal approval or contract award at the meeting.

Supporters of the work emphasized the safety and preservation rationale: the dome’s original 1914 lead had softened, glass pieces had cracked or were missing, and scaffolding and crane work would be necessary to protect the public during the undertaking. Opponents urged additional review of alternatives and closer scrutiny of the price, noting other courthouse needs and potential for overages.

Next steps were not finalized at the meeting; the court discussed options such as seeking additional bids, exploring other contracting approaches, or revisiting the item at a future session if a commissioner brings a motion with a second.