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Franklin County Officials Decommission 150 Year Old Courthouse

Franklin County Courthouse
Benjy Jeffords
/
WSIU
Franklin County Courthouse

The Franklin County Courthouse is unoccupied for the first time is 150 years.

Dozens of people gathered at the steps of the Franklin County courthouse for a decommissioning ceremony Monday afternoon.

“We’re just kind of celebrating the history of it.”

County Board Chairman Randall Crocker says the county board spent the last 20 years discussing and planning ways to either renovate or replace it.

After two failed referendums voters passed a 1% sales tax referendum in April of 2019 to replace the courthouse at the same location.

After the 20 million cost is paid off the 1% sales tax will expire.

“It’s something that’s been long overdue, to look to the future of a new court house and it’s very exciting to see that it’s finally going to happen.”

The county spent 1.6 million on renovations to the Campbell building across the street to serve as a temporary courthouse during construction.

“We put a small addition in it with an elevator to the basement, we refurbished the basement into courtrooms and circuit clerk’s office.”

Demolition is scheduled to start in June, so construction can begin in the fall and open by the fall of 2021.

The courthouse will have 47,000 square foot and be three stories high.

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