The News-Courier in Athens, Alabama

Local News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
December 29, 2010

Future use of old jail offices still undecided

By Adam Smith adam@athensnews-courier.com

— More than a year after crews demolished a portion of the old Limestone County Jail on Green Street, the future of the remaining office space is still unknown.

The original concept was to renovate those offices and turn the building over to the Limestone County School Board, which is connected to the old jail via a breezeway.

On Monday, County Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee said renovation plans for the building are undecided and the matter hasn’t been given further consideration by the commission.

“I don’t know about renovating that building. That’s pretty old and rough,” he said. “I’d like to do something else right there, and I think the commission would need to take a hard look at that project.”

Menefee said the commission and officials with the Board of Education need to get together and examine the possibilities.

No matter what the commission decides, Dr. Barry Carroll, Limestone County Schools superintendent, said the school board is growing and quickly running out of office space. And by state law, the commission is responsible for providing a space for the school board.

“We had looked at renovating (the old jail facility) for office space and adding an elevator between the two buildings that would make it handicapped accessible. That was the discussion,” Carroll said. “They may also possibly look at building a new facility on Elm Street. We do need additional office space because we’re crammed here.”

Limestone County paid MC Contracting LLC of Fackler $166,333 to demolish the jail. In November 2008, the county approved a feasibility study on the building renovation by Goodwyn, Mills & Crawford at a cost of $22,350.

Though Menefee said he’s not sold on the idea of renovating the old jail offices, he said there are more pressing renovations that need to take place at the Limestone County Courthouse.

“I think the courthouse has got to be looked at and real quick. That’s got to take the first place position,” he said. “We have a new district attorney (Brian Jones) coming in, and there are things that have to be done.”

Those items include a total renovation of the second floor, including courtrooms and renovations to the larger courtroom on the third floor.

“Those things won’t be brought up at the next (commission) meeting, but I don’t think it will be too far away,” Menefee said.

Text Only
Local News
Poll

Will your family take a summer vacation this year?

Yes
No
     View Results
Echoes from the Titanic
AP Video
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Stocks
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Business Marquee
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com