NEW COURTHOUSE FOR MISS. COUNTY

CHARLESTON -- Despite objections, the three-man Mississippi County Commission voted unanimously to build a $2.5 million county courthouse at the location of the one damaged by an arson fire Feb. 10.

Part of the money needed will come from a $1.4 million insurance settlement collected when the 100-year-old courthouse burned, said Presiding County Commissioner Jim Blumenberg.

Voters will decide in August whether they want a half-cent sales tax increase to pay the balance, Blumenberg said. The tax would provide $390,000 for three years, at which time the tax would expire, he said.

"We think the new courthouse will be something we'll be proud of," Blumenberg said.

A group of Mississippi County citizens disagree.

The group, led by Charleston resident Betty Hearnes, wife of former Gov. Warren E. Hearnes, has worked non-stop for weeks to organize an effort to convince the Mississippi County Commission to restore the 100-year-old landmark.

Those in favor of preserving the courthouse say that the damage is not devastating and the building should be saved.

Hugh Byrd, a Charleston farmer, has been one of the most vocal in his desire to save the building.

"I grew up a block from the courthouse," Byrd said. "I walked by it for the last 58 years. It's the only historic building left."

The group had a report prepared by professionals including architects, historic preservationists, and historic mason and construction specialists. That report was shown to the commission and indicated that the exterior walls, the foundation and at least the first floor of the structure are all structurally sound.

A recent poll by the Mississippi County Times shows that 49 percent of those polled wanted to restore the old courthouse as opposed to 38 percent who wanted to build a new one. Thirteen percent of those polled were undecided.

Blumenberg said three prevailing factors -- economics, safety, and seismic preparedness -- caused the commission to rule out restoration of the old courthouse.

While it will cost the county $2.5 million to build a courthouse, restoration estimates came in just at $3.5 million, Blumenberg said.

Safety was a factor because the county didn't want to spend $3.5 million on risky restoration and then have something go wrong in a couple of years, he said.

A new structure can more easily be constructed to be earthquake-ready than a century-old one that has suffered two fires, he said.

"No building can really be earthquake-proof, but we're going to make this new building as earthquake-proof as a building can be," Blumenberg said.

He said that while floor plans are still about two to three weeks away, the courthouse will be a steel structure with a brick exterior. While no decision has been made as to the style, Blumenberg said it might be of Victorian or Colonial style. No construction date has been set.

"We have a county to think of," Blumenberg said of the group wishing to restore the old building. "We can't concentrate on just one town."