The project to renovate the Attala County Courthouse in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is nearing completion.
As previously reported, the Mississippi Development Authority awarded the county $331,828 in the form of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to complete the renovations. County supervisors agreed to match $428,085, estimating the total cost at a little over $694,000. The supervisors will also set aside $250 each month to maintain improvements once the project is complete.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History also awarded funding toward the project under their Community Heritage Preservation grant program, which has not been used yet. These funds will help complete roof and masonry repairs. Plans were drawn up by Belinda Stewart Architects of Eupora, which also developed the project cost estimates. K.T. Builder Inc. of Greenwood did the ADA construction work.
John Wiggers of the North Central Planning and Development District, who assisted the county throughout the CDBG application process, told the board during Monday’s public hearing that the project is 95-99 percent complete.
“Hopefully, by the end of the month, we may be completely through with construction,” Wiggers told the supervisors.
Renovations and improvements to make the courthouse more handicap accessible were made to the interior and exterior. Handrails were placed along the steps leading to every courthouse entrance, and an automatic door was installed on the east entrance to the courthouse. Pending its arrival, handicap push-button door openers will be added to courthouse and courtroom entrances.
New railings were added to exterior entrances to improve safe accessibility.
Landon Gibson / The Star-Herald
Another effort resolved the inaccessibility of the courthouse restrooms. Previously, one was upstairs and one downstairs. Now, there are both men’s and women’s restrooms on each level, and all are now handicap accessible. Bathroom doorways were widened, railings were added to the renovated stalls, plumbing was redone, and tile was replaced. The elevator lobby was also renovated for better accommodation.
In the upstairs courtroom, additional space is provided between the bench and jury box by removing a pew, allowing for easier wheelchair access. Wiggers said entrances to the grand jury room now meet ADA specifications, but some new doors still need to be installed.
Two courtroom gallery pews were removed at the front to create space for citizens in wheelchairs.
Landon Gibson / The Star-Herald
“The architect wasn’t happy with the color of the doors,” Wiggers told the supervisors. “He wanted them darker. I think everything upstairs he was satisfied with.”
Wiggers said, involving all contracts, under $78,000 is left for the ADA project. The remaining phase of restoring the courthouse roof and conducting masonry repairs — funded by the second grant — should begin within the next two to three weeks.
The courthouse’s interior was last remodeled in 1965, an elevator was added in 1982, and some exterior work was completed in 1996. In November of 1985, the courthouse was designated a Mississippi landmark, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997.
