Photo: Members of the Buildings and Grounds Committee met Tuesday to continue discussion of future building projects.
Paris, Tenn.–Members of the Henry County Buildings and Grounds Committee have their work cut out for them as they continue to grapple with aging government buildings and how to plan for the future. The committee continued its work Tuesday with more discussion of future building project plans, an update on the courthouse bell tower and a discussion of the courthouse lawn.
Chairman Marty Visser and Building Supervisor John McElroy said quotes are expected for restoration work on the bell tower, which will involve removing it with a crane and replacing it with another tower. “The whole structure is rotten up inside”, McElroy said.
County Commissioner David Webb suggested planting white oak and dogwood to replace the trees that were recently removed from the courthouse lawn. “Typically, the type of trees we had last 120 years so we got some bonus years out of them.” He suggested the dogwoods should be placed closer to the building and the white oak further out on the lawn.
With numerous county officials present, the bulk of the session involved discussion of future building plans and where to place the various county offices. Everyone has agreed over several meetings that the offices in the courthouse annex have to move out of that building as soon as possible because of structural problems there.
“We have to get out of there soon. We’re already on borrowed time,” Visser said.
Jerry Hartsfield, Principal Architect of TLM Associates, was also present to provide his input.
Visser repeated his proposal for the wheel tax to be utilized for the future building projects and a work session was set for 5 p.m. September 30.