Massac County officials will have to look into different funding avenues to repair the 74-year-old courthouse. Voters rejected a 1 percent sales tax to fund the renovations in a vote Tuesday night.
County Commissioner Jeff Weber says the building needs around $5.5 million dollars in repairs.
“Well right now the courthouse is leaking water every time it comes a slight rain and there’s plaster falling down. When it rains they’ve got buckets around catching water that’s leaking in. They’ve got computer equipment that they’re covering up with tarps. Multiple bathroom facilities do not work correctly,” Weber said.
Banterra Bank last year donated their old building to house government offices currently located at the courthouse but Weber says a committee of citizens decided the courthouse should be renovated instead. He says the county is in the process of setting up an emergency courtroom because the judge does not want to conduct court in the deteriorating building. Weber says the county is looking into all funding sources for repairs.
