Robbinsville – Graham County is edging closer to breaking ground on its new courthouse.
County project manager Jason Marino presented the board of commissioners with three preliminary designs on Aug. 20. The two-story justice center – which will be on West Fort Hill Road and span 55,000-58,000 square feet – might have already began construction had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re excited to say that the designs we’ve come up with not only fits the area, but it also does not touch the area at the 911 center,” Marino said. “I’m real excited for the opportunity to work on the property. If this hadn’t happened, I would have dirty boots every day.”
The building will house two courtrooms, the sheriff’s office and all departments in the courthouse. Additionally, 210 parking spaces will be available, split between two lots.
Marino said the front entrance and minute details – including finalizing details with Duke Energy, which owns a high-voltage transformer station that will border the property – are all that’s holding back finalizing the design. The county is not ready to release images of the designs, but discussed possibly putting the vote for the new courthouse design to the public, which could appear in the form of a poll in The Graham Star.
Portions of the existing courthouse’s exterior could be used on the facade of the new building as well.
Marino indicated that plans for the renovation of a wing in the community building – which will house the county election office – and new buildings for the cemetery and recreation department are moving along nicely, though building materials may be challenging to acquire because of the pandemic.
In other news from the Aug. 20 meeting:
* Beth Fields, director of the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, spoke about the unsigned lease between the county and the center. The issue has arose for two reasons: the county needs to hold a trial there in November – due to spacing issues in the jury room at the courthouse – and a rapidly approaching deadline of Oct. 1. Garland said she had just received the revised contract back that afternoon and would be sharing it with Fields for review.
* Wanda Hill, director of the Graham County Senior Center, informed the board that it’s time to apply for the annual General Purpose grant, which will be $10,518 and comes with a required 25 percent match from the county. The motion to apply passed unanimously.