Courthouse Renovations Create Construction Zone on Carthage Squa - KOAM TV 7

    The Carthage square becomes a construction zone as three million dollars in renovations get underway at the Jasper County courthouse.

Crews are pulling out  radiators from the county courthouse that will become scrap metal. But employees aren't sad to see them replaced by a geothermal system soon to be installed.

Lisa Perry, an administrative assistant in the Assessor’s Office said, "I am more than excited. It will be regulated  heat.  We won’t freeze in the winter and cook in summer. We won’t have to  listen to the air conditioners run.”

Stacey Chapman, who does data entry for the Assessor said, "I had a little plug in heater I camped out around during the day."

Jason Shryer, the courthouse  maintenance supervisor added,  "They scream we're hot. We shut it off. Then the north side gets even colder. It's a never ending battle. Hopefully it (geothermal) will take care of that cause each office will be able to set their own temperature.”

The sidewalk and entryway on the north side of the courthouse building are being  demolished and cleared. That's where crews will dig thirty geothermal  wells five hundred feet feet underground. Just a few will go on the lawn.

Sage Acorn, the regional construction leader for Controlled Technology and Solutions which is doing the work said,  "There's trees, monuments, things like that, we wanted to avoid and not risk damaging.  So we looked at the best way to give them the best bang for their buck."

Parking spaces will be blocked until October which could impact local businesses on the square.

Lilly Carlson who operates “Rumor Has It Café” said, "I think it might for the first few days but  then I think people will get used  to it. They already have to deal with  not enough parking the way it is right now."

Courthouse employees say it’s not just their comfort level but the appearance of the courthouse that’s a concern as well.

Perry said, “I  think the air  conditioner sticking out of the window is an eye sore  and I think it’s gonna be more energy efficient which is by far important for taxpayers money."

And Chapman said, "You've got your water coming down that’s discoloring  a little bit. All the windows air conditioning sticking out of them.  And everybody loves the courthouse and it’s historical building with kind of an eyesore, a little bit. I’m very excited for the change."

Part of the renovation project will be power washing the entire courthouse and re- tuck-pointing it to replace missing grout. Restoring it to its original splendor.   All exterior work on the courthouse is to be finished by the first week of October before the Maple Leaf Festival.

     The work is paid for with the sales tax passed this spring that will also fund the new juvenile justice center.