The newly formed Pickens County Courthouse Advisory Commission (Pickens CAC) is asking all interested members of the public to attend the first of several meetings in which the commission will discuss Pickens County Courthouse renovations to be funded by the 1-cent sales tax extension approved in February of this year.
The first meeting will be held on August 8, 2008 at 1 p.m. in the Appalachian Technical College Education Center, Room 318, and will be, according to commission head Dr. Sanford Chandler, an “establishment meeting” that will set the groundwork for future discussion of the $17 million upgrade.
Speaking on behalf of the CAC, Dr. Chandler (also president of Appalachian Technical College) said, “We want everyone in the community to have the opportunity to be heard and give input, and we want the commission to represent their desires.”
Dr. Chandler said the commission is not entering into the public meetings with any preconceived ideas about the future of the project and expects the commission’s direction to firm up after CAC meetings begin.
Any member of the public who wishes to address the commission will be asked to state their name and address (to ensure Pickens County residency) and will be given three minutes to voice their concerns and suggestions. “The public may come up with ideas we haven’t,” Dr. Chandler said, “and we want to hear what they have to say.”
The CAC was created following discussions between Commissioner Robert Jones and the previous Pickens County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury recommended a four-person advisory commission be created to provide guidance and input to the commissioner’s office as the courthouse is planned and constructed.
The Pickens CAC directives include monthly reports to Commissioner Jones on project progress, reviewing all requirements and plans for the facility with the
judicial staff and architects, receiving recommendations on plans and schedules from architects and engineers, and reports to each current Grand Jury member a minimum of one time on the progress and details of the courthouse project.
Pickens CAC members, who represent all areas of Pickens County, include T.J. Keener of Nelson – Yellow Creek; Curtis Hamrick of Sharptop – Talking Rock; Jan Oda of Appalachian – Jasper; Arthur Allred of Refuge – Townsend; Terry Long of Hill – Jerusalem; Donnie Holmes of West End – Ludville; Martha Forrest Pool of the Jasper Merchants’ Association; judicial appointee Frank Martin; historic representative Rev. Charles Walker; and project coordinator and Vice Chairman Tom Eubanks.
Architect Bruce Jennings will also be present at the August 8 meeting, and will bring sketches of possibilities for courthouse design.
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