Courthouse vote postponed

Pike County commissioners voted 3-1 to postpone the approval or denial of a $2,670,000 agreement with John W. Spratlin and Son of Lincolnton for the renovation and addition to the historic 1895 courthouse until the Jan. 11 meeting. Negotiations reduced the original bid by $325,000. To read more about the negotiations and choices the board has, read the Dec. 21 edition of the Journal Reporter. The Pike County school board will provide space for the Superior Court Clerk’s office to hold court while the historic courthouse is renovated. Several areas of the alternative school off Highway 19 will be used at no cost to the county to hold court when needed. The school agreed to provide the old library space as a courtroom as well as areas for a jury room, jury assembly room, grand jury room and judges quarters.According to county manager Bill Sawyer, the superintendent and school board were very helpful and offered to arrange furniture where needed for court procedures, arrange for parking and coordinate schedules so no conflicts would occur.