ALTUS – Renovations to the Jackson County Courthouse and construction of a new county building are on schedule for a December 2025 completion date, District 2 Commissioner Kirk Butler said.
The 15,000 square-foot county building will house the offices for the commissioners, treasurer, assessor and county clerk. Meanwhile, the renovated courthouse will include offices for all judges, district attorney and other judicial-related officers.
The cost of renovation and the new county building will be $16.3 million, which is funded by a half-cent sales tax that was passed by voters in 2021 and went into effect in 2022. The sales tax will remain on the books for 10 years.
“We (commissioners) just decided it was time to do something and the voters agreed with us,” Butler said.
As construction crews gutted the inside of the old courthouse, they discovered some treasures including a hidden dome that was covered up during some 1939 renovations.
“They couldn’t repair it (dome) so they covered it up,” Butler said. “Once it’s restored, you’ll be able to see from the first floor to the top floor. We’re proud of it (renovations) so far. The workers also found a lot of horse hair inside the walls.”
The courthouse will be “totally new” inside with modern amenities and appearance, the commissioner said.
“We’re trying to do them both at the same time so we can keep the work going,” and meet project deadlines,” Butler said.
Joe D. Hall is the project’s general contractor.