In recent weeks, the County government has had to address a number of issues at the Butts County Courthouse concerning climate control systems. A recent issue with the boiler that is used to heat most parts of the building has led officials to determine that the existing system can no longer be used due to age, safety and general inoperability.

“The boiler that has been being used to heat the courthouse in 2016 is the same boiler that was heating the building in 1898 when it was first opened” said Government Relations Director Michael Brewer on Monday. “It was installed as the building was being built and has been converted, first from coal to fuel oil and later, from fuel oil to natural gas. It has done its duty and has far outlasted what I imagine anyone would have projected 118 years ago”.

Because of the age of the system, it is nearly impossible to find parts for it when it has a problem and the delay in finding parts leaves the building mostly without heat. Some offices in the courthouse have separate modern heating systems that have been installed in later years but nothing currently in place there can heat the cavernous courtroom space that occupies much of the second floor. Portable heating systems have been brought in temporarily but this puts a heavy load on the building electrical systems and has to be completely turned off at night. County facilities workers have been coming in early to turn the portable heating systems on before court but this is not an optimal situation.

“The County is diligently working on pricing a solution to the heating situation in the courthouse, either by replacing the existing boiler with a modern efficient one or looking at a completely different system” said County Administrator Dr. Keith Moffett on Monday. “We don’t want a ‘band-aid’ approach to the problem but rather one that will address the issue long-term, bringing greater efficiency and effective heating into that building”.

Depending on temperature issues, County officials stated on Monday that they had offered the court system the use of the Administration Building auditorium for court if necessary and could make an official request to the City of Jackson for use of their Municipal Courthouse as a backup courtroom space. “We want to do everything we can to assist the judicial branch of the County during this process and hope that we can determine a solution that can be implemented as soon as possible” said county officials. “We appreciate the patience of the public that uses the building and our officials who work in it as we work this issue”.