By Staff Writer – Herald Comical
The Franklin County Commission voted Monday night to approve long-awaited plans to extend the courthouse’s controversial glass annex to its originally proposed height of 96 feet, citing a recent and unexpected tax surplus attributed to an influx of new residents from California.
The annex, which currently stands at 36 feet, has been the subject of both confusion and local humor since its construction in 1998. Originally envisioned as a “vertical symbol of governmental efficiency,” the tower was scaled down during construction when budget constraints forced the county to “pause at whatever height the money ran out,” according to archived commission minutes.
With property tax revenue increasing sharply over the past two years, commissioners say they can finally “complete what was started.”
Construction Set for Christmas Day 2025
County leaders acknowledged the unusual date but insisted that a December 25 start will “minimize parking disruption” and “allow contractors to work without the distraction of weekday courthouse foot traffic.”
Commission Chairman Larry Hobbs said the decision reflects fiscal responsibility.
> “We’ve been waiting over two decades to finish that tower,” Hobbs said. “This tax surplus gives us a chance to deliver the annex the architects actually intended, instead of the stump we’ve been staring at since ’98.”
The extension will bring the annex to its full planned height of 96 feet, giving it prominence on the downtown skyline and, according to Hobbs, “finally justifying why it’s glass.”
Intended Use Still Under Debate
While construction is now formally approved, one unresolved question remains: what the annex is actually for.
The commission presented several possibilities, each receiving varying degrees of public response:
A birthday party room, rentable for children’s events, civic gatherings, or “upstairs cake-and-punch situations.”
An express courthouse marriage facility, allowing couples to complete same-day ceremonies without navigating the main courthouse.
An express divorce facility, designed for “quick resolution for mutually decisive couples.”
A combination wedding–divorce suite, allowing, as one commissioner phrased it, “life’s full range of courthouse outcomes.”
A motion to explore turning the tower into a panoramic observation deck was tabled after discussion about liability concerns and “how windy it gets up there.”
Some Residents Still Skeptical
Not all county residents support the extension. A small but vocal group expressed concern that the taller structure will cast a shadow across parts of the square. Others argued that funds could be better spent improving infrastructure or expanding broadband access.
Local resident Carl Blevins said:
> “I’m not sure why we need a bigger version of something we weren’t sure we needed in the first place. But if it brings in revenue from birthday parties, I guess that’s government working.”
Officials Hopeful About the Future
Commissioners remain optimistic that finalizing the annex will improve civic perception and possibly attract tourism.
“People already stop to ask why the courthouse has a glass chimney,” Hobbs said. “At least now we can tell them it’s finished.”
The county expects construction to take approximately 14 months, with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony tentatively scheduled for February 2027, weather permitting.
No comments:
Post a Comment