Knox County board creates courthouse task force to weigh $15 million renovation versus new build

The Knox County Board voted on March 25 to create an ad hoc courthouse task force to examine options for addressing an aging county courthouse, including a renovation that officials estimated could require about $15 million for HVAC, plumbing and electrical upgrades or pursuing alternate properties or a new build.

Board Chair said the group will include six board members plus two at-large citizens and will produce a report to the full board. "We owe it to the citizens to explore opportunities," the Chair said, urging a rapid but thorough process so that any referendum or election-related steps could be timed before the general election if necessary. The task force is set to expire on Dec. 1 unless the board extends its term.

The Chair cited the $15 million estimate as an example of costs to make the existing building "modern-day" compliant, and compared that to an adjacent county’s new, roughly 50,000-square-foot courthouse project, which the Chair said was being built for about $40 million. The task force will assess renovation costs, potential new sites, options to repurpose existing structures, and the trade-offs between renovating and building new.

Pam Davidson, who the Chair said will serve on the task force, supported a full review and urged the board to evaluate the feasibility of repurposing bought materials or avoiding stranded expenses. Board members said the task force will solicit public feedback, study financing options, and return recommendations to the board.

Next steps: the chair will appoint the task force membership and the group is expected to present findings and recommendations to the full board by Dec. 1, 2026.