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Rust can be seen on the four faces of the courthouse clock.

Courthouse renovation considered

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Top Stories
Saturday, May 22. 2010
Comments (78)
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.

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#1 ANON on 05/19/10 at 06:32 AM
Really, does it matter that clock is rusting or that the Courthouse is falling apart on the inside? Why don't you come and take a tour one day.
#2 Sheila Tolley on 05/19/10 at 07:43 AM
Oh yeah, let's make it real safe and pretty like the one Brian Nichols memorialized for us all. The itemized suggested list on renovations need to be put out there for taxpayers to review.
#3 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 08:03 AM
economic crisis..people starving. Who has money for this and how do they sleep?
#3.1 anon on 05/21/10 at 07:54 AM
Oh, do we have people starving in Pike Co.? Maybe we should think about that while people are raising money for Fireworks!
#4 Money well spent? on 05/19/10 at 08:54 AM
People starving? My, the drama! After the $2.4 M is spent and more is needed to complete the project because of unknowns discovered during renovation; what will be the finial product? An old building that has long outlived its usefulness as a Courthouse. Maybe we could donate it to the BOC/BOE as a meeting hall or convert it to a Hall of Fame for past Pike County politicians.
#4.1 v smith on 05/19/10 at 09:40 AM
i say we bulldoze the entire planet and start over
#4.1.1 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 09:51 AM
The world has gone to ---- in a handbasket. The love of money has ruined this place.
#4.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 08:01 AM
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
#4.2 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 09:43 AM
This Bldg was built for use as a Courthouse at a time whe Pike County had far more Citizens than it does now. (check it out). When this is done It will be a Courthouse again and other offices will have figured out by then where to go.

We will be looking at a new County Business Complex instead of a New Judicial Center.
#4.2.1 works there on 05/19/10 at 10:10 AM
What do you suggest we do with the three vaults that are slap full? No more room for documents and more coming all the time.
#4.2.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 08:12 AM
Build another vault. Or better yet, wait until the dust clears on all the recent judges who have developed a recent urge to "Bond" with their families. Maybe half that "stuff" will no longer be essential anyway. Vault up Giant Mart...that should suffice for 500 years or so. REPAIR NOT RENOVATION FOR OUR HISTORIC COURTHOUSE. Or let the commissioners use the money from the little brown bags. OR THEIR OWN...
#4.2.1.1.1 works there on 05/20/10 at 08:57 AM
You have no idea what you're talking about. Vaults take up a huge amount of space, are expensive, and there is no where to put another one. They have to be fireproof. Those records you so gleefully want chucked are required by law to be kept. There are records there from the 1800's that are needed for proof to document all sorts of legal work, proof for CSA or DAR membership, geneology work, on and on.
I can't believe you would endorse throwing away Pike County's history. Shame on you.
#4.2.1.1.1.1 carol on 05/20/10 at 11:33 AM
How is a renovation going to give you more vault space. The building is only as big as it is so where will the extra vault space come from a remodeling job. White paint doesn't make more space.
Just another waste of tax payers money for an old building that will not be able to house any more than it does now but will just have a cosmetic do over look. If money is going to be spent, make it a wise expenditure that will be useful for the taxpayers and the people who have to work in it.
#4.2.1.1.1.1.1 works there on 05/20/10 at 11:58 AM
I agree with you. We need a new facility.
#4.2.1.1.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 03:42 PM
So seal everything there now for a wonderful time capsule. From this day forward put everything on computers. Who cares about history anyway? Now, we change it to the way the prominent and dominant group likes it. Once upon a time, there was an old red brick courthouse in downtown Zebulon. But as years went by......the new generations got too fat to walk down stairs to pee. The judges became to adulterous to make fair rulings. The vaults became too small to contain the paper trails of crime. Brian Nichols killed a judge on camera followed by three others. BUT the death penalty was not even considered because it would have cost too much. Which brings up another problem. Who is regulating the regulators? Who is judging the judges? Who is bidding on the bids? Bids for what?
#4.2.1.1.1.3 anon on 05/21/10 at 08:06 AM
Sheila why don't you visit the Courthouse sometimes. You can't just build a vault anywhere, especially when there isn't room. Records are kept on computers but the originals still have to be put in storage. Until you have to work/have a case heard in the Courthouse you can't begin to understand how behind times we are.
#4.2.1.1.1.3.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 10:39 AM
Is the old courthouse safe? If not someone should sue Pike County. If it is safe..leave it alone and build a new beautiful plastic building with all the new and wonderul inventions to replace the necessary offices. Have old documents on display and maintain the integrity of the Old Courthouse for tours. That courthouse is a historical building. Does anyone care about historical landmarks anymore? Stonehenge is looking a little ragged also. I think England should completely renovate that old bunch of rocks..
#4.2.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 09:02 AM
Move them to Teen Challenge Hill where taxes are free.
#4.2.1.2.1 works there on 05/20/10 at 12:02 PM
See, that is just like you. When you don't have an answer, you make a joke. The biggest complainers never come up with viable solutions.
#4.2.1.2.2 NOT Shelia Tolley on 05/20/10 at 12:40 PM
I disagree with her most of the time but she has a way of making me laugh while still making a point so I give her that.
#4.2.1.2.2.1 sheila is stupid on 05/21/10 at 08:36 AM
sheila is stupid and did not even go to college. i do not blame you for making it clear that you are not sheila. i will too. i will be 'definitely not sheila' in future blogs.
#4.2.1.2.2.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/22/10 at 08:40 AM
Bill Gates and I did not go to college. Ted Bundy did.
#4.2.1.3 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 08:49 AM
""""He suggested a renovated Zebulon courthouse should house only the superior court judges, clerks and magistrate judge so the courtrooms would be best used. """"
Then it seems it should be big enough. Use the rest as vault space. You jerks do not care about Historical Landmarks. Make the old courthouse safe, put some of the old documents on display, charge $5 to enter, make a video of how things worked in the past for people who do care about history. Build a new plastic building for the offices that reside in the current courthouse with a metal detector. You all are Tax Ticks anyway. Go suck the blood out of Pike County in another location but LEAVE the courthouse alone. We can rent it to 900 illegal immigrants as soon as obama gives them their "Home Sweet Home sign."
#4.2.1.4 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 08:53 AM
Put them in the old Giant Mart building with a sign out front that reads, "NOW HIRING" no one will even come close to the building.
#4.3 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 12:33 PM
Its good to see that some people have been lucky during the economic downturn..so much that they cannot conceive of other peoples suffering and simply call it drama.
Unfortunately, I know many people who were not. I can sympathize with their pain and outrage at the prospect of losing the little money they have just to make a building look pretty. Where are all the republicans?..they are supposed to loathe government waste. (depending on the circumstances..lol)
#4.3.1 Anonymous on 05/20/10 at 11:02 AM
luck had nothing to do with it
#4.3.1.1 NOT Shelia Tolley on 05/20/10 at 12:43 PM
I don't like you.
#4.3.1.1.1 Anonymous on 05/20/10 at 06:26 PM
of course you don't

most people have been trained over the last 50 years to believe that if they are doing badly it's just bad luck and the people succeeding had help or good luck

choices are what matter, not luck
#5 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 09:42 AM
I won't vote for it.
#6 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 09:53 AM
"""He suggested a renovated Zebulon courthouse should house only the superior court judges, clerks and magistrate judge so the courtrooms would be best used. """

Don't you all understand that these people need a multi million dollar courthouse so that they can bonk their Public defenders, teens, and steal the counties money??? no I will not vote for this.
#7 Opinion on 05/19/10 at 10:32 AM
Forget the rusty clock, we don't rely on it to tell us the time anyway, we have cell phones, watches, etc. However, after serving as juror a couple years ago, I can see the need for improvements including an additional restroom. We were going in and out of the same one as the defendants and plaintiffs (sensitive case with teen/and accused abuser). The acoustics in the courtroom were horrible, making it difficult to hear testimony and instructions. The crowd folks getting up and down creaking across the floor and the door squeaking made it worse. The deliberation room was very close to the sitting area outside the courtroom and the window over the door was slanted open. I know good and well the defendants sitting right outside the door were listening (or trying to)us deliberate. We kept trying to keep our voices low. However, they should keep the cost of renovation to a minimum. List the specifics of the renovations like Sheila said above.
#8 History Buff on 05/19/10 at 11:18 AM
Can someone with a longer history of residence explain where did the current courtroom judge desk came from. Wasn'nt the courtroom also used during the filming of some movies, I think Fried Green Tomatoes and Tank were done there but not sure. Funny how we know where Gone with the Wind was filmed, but we fail to properly acknowledge and take advantage of the history of the courthouse.

Go upstairs and see for yourself. The building is falling apart and bandaids not longer are needed.
#8.1 Anonymous on 05/19/10 at 02:15 PM
"Fried Green Tomatoes", "Tank", and "Murder in Coweta County" were all filmed in our courthouse. Johnny Cash filmed part of a documentary on trains in the early 70s, using our depot & tracks.
#9 Seriously without bickering on 05/19/10 at 12:19 PM
Seriously without Bickering The County does need a half way decent courthouse. I dont know if court could be held in another location. I know renovated the old one would be nice "IF" the funds are available. I know there has to be a lot of modern updates on it and a lot of it is security related which is understandable. Seems like by reading the paper the Fire Department can get almost a 500,000 grant for a ladder truck for all the large multi story buildings in the county that the Courthouse could be renovated with some sort of grant or funds from somewhere. I think renovation is the answer but where the funds come from will be the biggest question to be answered.
#10 ggscocoa on 05/19/10 at 03:02 PM
We won't need a courthouse if we can't get decent judges to hold court there. Just go back to the old ways and let us handle the justice for ourselves...LOL
#11 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 08:32 AM
People peed in the old days and people pee now. People murdered in the old days and they murder now. If this courthouse needs renovation for anything except "SAFETY"... we have many old people that need to be exhumed and tried over. Just in case someone was "eavesdropping" in 1952 when my uncle was tried for murder. Repair not renovation. It was built of real God made material. Don't plasticize it. Scan your vault info into a new, modern, wonderful, manymany byte computer. Do not destroy the integrity of The Zebulon Courthouse. Refinish the clocks to eliminate the rust. Set them all for 5:00. It is 5:o'clock somewhere. A list of spending for taxpayers to approve. Bids from contractors....taxpayers deserve to see them!
#11.1 Anonymous on 05/20/10 at 04:42 PM
Smells like someone peed in there recently -- oh, sorry, I forgot .... that's the bat pee/feces smell that knocks you down in there. Come on, folks, it's a huge embarrassment there.
#11.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 10:47 AM
Why are you going to court? To finally get a name. Congratulations.
#12 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 08:40 AM
“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.”

BALONEY to you CARTER. We do not want a modern courthouse and obviously modern judges did not work out so well. We want a repaired, old courthouse.
#12.1 Anonymous on 05/20/10 at 09:25 AM
Sheila, You don't know anything. You might as well tear the thing down as to continued repair jobs. It's gone way beyond repairs it needs to be gutted and rebuilt or destroyed.

Don't matter to Me which. But don't waste my money repairing an albatrose...........
#13 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 09:00 AM
Just build us one in China and ship it on over. We want to see the bids for the job. David Rawlins, can you tell me where to find all the public records of this job bid on My Courthouse project?
#13.1 David Rawlins on 05/20/10 at 10:59 AM
I'm not sure exactly. I will see what I can find out.
#13.1.1 NOT Shelia Tolley on 05/20/10 at 04:55 PM
I thought you quit blogging??????
#13.1.1.1 David Rawlins on 05/21/10 at 07:08 AM
Rather than say something negative to you, I will simply point you to webster and the definition of indefinitely.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indefinitely

However, I will continue to have limited interaction with this site.
#13.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 05/21/10 at 10:58 AM
who are you kidding..you cant help it. you are a victim of your own ego.
#13.1.1.1.1.1 fat bastard on 05/21/10 at 04:43 PM
you anonymass are nothing but attack dogs

find something constructive to do
#13.1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 05/21/10 at 05:10 PM
You just hate it because you don't know who to target with your hate.
#13.1.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 03:24 PM
Get lost...jerk!
#13.2 NOT Shelia Tolley on 05/20/10 at 12:55 PM
That would be an interesting document to see.
#14 working girl on 05/20/10 at 11:01 AM
Someone should contact Extreme Home Makeover and plead for them to do a "Courthouse Edition". Film a sad story of the rusty clock, dilapidation, clerks unable to move around due to vaults bursting at the seams - conditions so bad even the judges get distracted.... maybe they'll feel sorry for the taxpayers?? Not holding my breath though hee hee
#14.1 Anonymous on 05/21/10 at 04:38 AM
I think it is pretty sorry for you to assume that those who receive help from Extreme Makeover are do so because they tell a sad story and are not deserving. I know someone who received a new home on Extreme Makeover that is very deserving and yes, his story is sad, but shouldn't be made light of by your ignorant comment.
#14.1.1 working girl on 05/21/10 at 09:33 AM
Geesh, it was meant as a joke about the county not having 3.4 mil to pay for an out of date building in a news article about renovation. And my last line said "not holding my breath" and "hee hee" see that means a JOKE! I love that show and cry everytime. But its not Sunday night, and this is not an article about the show....so lighten up! Its FRIDAY!
#14.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 10:48 AM
Oh yeah. TGIF.
#15 Anonymous on 05/20/10 at 01:10 PM
The County Courthouse is the center of the community in southern towns. It is the crossroads for almost anywhere you want to go in Pike County. "Take a left at the courthouse".

When I was a kid, that old courthouse arose out of the morning light on many foggy mornings to let us know we were almost at school. Those of us that grew up near the northern county line were the first picked up on our bus route and had quite a long trip into Zebulon.

When the sun is setting, that old clock hovers above the laughing children and smiling families walking over to "Wings n Things" for family supper. Our downtown square has become alive again with the welcomed appearance of fresh new businesses in the newly revitalized shops around it. I must admit I love that big, old red courthouse because it is the heart of Pike County and just plain old reminds me of home.
#15.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/20/10 at 03:26 PM
Ten four, Good buddy. Repair not renovation. Bids! Bids! Where they at? Where they at? List of proposed improvements. Where's it at? Where's it at? Inquiring taxpayers deserve to know. We do not care how many Carter has renovated. BP has drilled many oil wells. Bids, list of proposed improvements........put it out there commissioners!!!
#15.1.1 English Teacher on 05/21/10 at 07:41 AM
LOL! Better not try to write a column today. Thanks for the grin.
#15.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 09:07 AM
Dear English Teacher.....do you actually think I do not know about prepositions and the ending of sentences? I will use "AIN'T for emphasis where I please and hang dangling participles anywhere I like. Put that there in your pipe and smoke it, Englush Teecha.
#15.1.1.2 Anonymous on 05/21/10 at 11:45 AM
By the way English Teacher, those are popular song lyrics about blogging, quite appropriate for the BLOG. Guess you didn't get it
#15.1.2 pond house on 05/21/10 at 09:00 AM
Where are they at? Now, now you know that's not right. Try it this way---where are they at, assh@@@.
#16 Commissioners Why? on 05/20/10 at 09:34 PM
renovations to the historic courthouse, when they do not have money to put the pipe in at OLD LIFSEY SPRINGS Road?
#16.1 District 2 Why? on 05/21/10 at 06:35 AM
Have you called your Commissioner Parrish Swift? He got himself a free well and a insulated pump house paid for by you the taxpayer. Then turned around and cashed in on Soverign Imunity. Tossed setbacks right out of the code book.
#17 definitely not sheila on 05/21/10 at 08:55 AM
i am so glad someone agrees with me that sheila is not so smart. she blogs alot but knows so little.
#17.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/21/10 at 09:11 AM
Alot does not exist as a word. It is properly written as two words. You are welcome, definitely not Sheila.
#18 wonders why on 05/21/10 at 09:27 AM
Why is it that we have decided that all buildings are disposable. Does everyone not realize the money wasted on tearing down buildings and building new ones. McDonalds and Wendys being razed every few years to build based on new concept. What a waste of money and resources. Look at all the old buildings in Europe that have been being used for centuries. Every county around has built new schools based on the concept that the old ones are no longer usable. But then they happily move other offices or pre-k classes etc into them. Why are we kidding ourselves that we cannot function with what we have. We do not have to have granite cabinets and automatic toilets in every building. Life will go on. Crawford County built a 5 mil. new courthouse because the old one was unusable then could not have court in it for over a year because the trusses and the roof could cave in.
#19 J.M. on 05/21/10 at 04:37 PM
Why don't we do as the schools do, bring in trailors and put them around the square. We need more court rooms for all your public officials in trouble. Obama 2012
#19.1 v smith on 05/21/10 at 04:48 PM
well if it isnt the long missing jm good thing you are here the obama lovers were getting lonely

they are your public officials as well or are you just a troll with no real ties to PC

i vote for troll based on all your trollish posts on this site

why you go back to fantasyland (you know the land where obama is a good president)
#19.1.1 J.M. on 05/21/10 at 06:00 PM
Well you must be jealous, so I will put you in the club. JACKASS
#19.2 David Rawlins on 05/21/10 at 05:01 PM
J.M. I agree with you about the trailers.

NOBama 2012!!
#19.3 reader on 05/21/10 at 05:01 PM
Those are stupid ideas, mainly the OBAMA 2012.
JC your support of loosers is growing, dem's, Obama, and Henderson. I thought you were a patriot? Sounds like you are a tax dollar waster. That is typical of democrats.
#19.4 v smith on 05/21/10 at 05:10 PM
well jm when you gonna call someone a jackass today

been thinking about your Godliness?
#20 Sheila Tolley on 05/22/10 at 09:04 AM
David Rawlins, serious question, is it against the oath of office for commissioners to answer questions on line?
#21 David Rawlins on 05/22/10 at 05:35 PM
not that I know of...
#21.1 Sheila Tolley on 05/22/10 at 08:03 PM
Why do they never answer questions? They are probably ashamed of the answer. Thanks.
#22 Resigned on 05/23/10 at 06:37 AM
Just because a building is old, delapidated, and run down does not make it an "historical landmark". Seems to me there are several county buildings available that are unused that could be refurbished and would need less upkeep. or for that matter, why not build a new courthouse on land the county already has... say in the industrial park. It's obvious the BOC and the COC can't even bribe businesses to move in there. A perfect setting for a courthouse (oops no natural gas pipeline there.....YET)
#23 Pike Patriot Homeowner on 05/23/10 at 09:36 AM
If the building had been properly maintained then it would not be in this shape. Blame it on the idiots that spent your tax dollars elsewhere in the past. BTW we need donations for the fireworks.
#24 Taxper on 05/23/10 at 02:54 PM
What is all the stink about. I suspect it is posturing for the upcoming election by a group that wants control of the county lead by contractor/developers. This looks like a developer/contractor power grab. Citizens you are already spending that penny in Pike, Spalding, Upson locally and everywhere else in Georgia. Unless you want your taxes to go up you had better keep that penny in Pike. A note to the power mongers--spend your money wisely, not foolishly with a smear/scare tactic. Your signatures are all over your posts.
#25 Another taxpayer on 05/24/10 at 04:36 PM
From what I've heard about the goings on in those Judges Chambers, I say we put them somewhere else. Move them and the courtroom to the old Giant Mart bldg. You can add more restrooms, add a temporary holding cell, have offices for all of them and you have a large parking lot. Redo the front and let's move on!
#26 Interwest Safety on 02/14/11 at 02:23 PM
I really love the work that they've put into renovations - do you know if they are planning on more renovations in the near future?
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