Courthouse renovation considered

Members of the SPLOST steering committee and county commissioners met with architects Thursday, May 13, to discuss possible renovations to the historic courthouse, covering such issues as the SPLOST vote, courthouse space, where to move employees and what needs to be done.Carter Watkins Architects have undertaken dozens of courthouse and city renovations across the state. The firm said Zebulon courthouse renovations would cost $2.4 million. Ben Carter said the courthouse is not up to code because it does not offer public restrooms or a water fountain on the second floor. He said having one restroom for jury, inmates and judges to share is bad practice in case they see each other in the crowded halls. He suggested a renovated Zebulon courthouse should house only the superior court judges, clerks and magistrate judge so the courtrooms would be best used. ’There are all kinds of problems and dilemmas to meet modern courthouse requirements,’ Carter said. ‘You need to figure out who’s going to move back into the courthouse and design it based on long term plans.’SPLOST committee members and the architects discussed issues that arose in other counties such as moving employees, records and other materials from the courthouse during renovation.