WEST POINT — After buying the former Daily Times Leader building during its Jan. 7 meeting, the Clay County Board of Supervisors has plans to put the space to work.
Clay County Chancery Clerk Robbie Robinson says the immediate need is a new location for the District 4 voting precinct to replace the Clay County Courthouse, which is “overrun” each time an election is held. District 4 is the county”s third-largest precinct.
The next general election will be judicial and congressional elections in November. But Robinson says extensive renovation must take place before anything can be done in the building, which is located on Court Street downtown.
A new roof will cost the county an estimated $30,000 and a professional firm will be hired to remove tiles containing asbestos. Leaks in the roof also caused mold growth and rotting to walls and carpeting, which will cost $5,000-$10,000 to repair.
Robinson says the building does not have any structural problems.
Further plans for the building include housing the superintendent of Clay County schools, Mae Brewer”s, office, a new courtroom, a new board room for supervisors, and storage space.
“We”re always running out of space for archival storage,” said Robinson.
District 4 Supervisor Shelton Deanes says the renovations will take place in phases. The board hopes to begin the first phase, preparing the downstairs for voting, before summer.
The board must also send a letter to the U.S. Justice Department notifying the agency of the county”s intention to move one of its voting precincts.
The board negotiated the purchase of the building for $50,000 from Don Norman, publisher of The Starkville Daily News and The Daily Times Leader. Both papers are owned by Horizon Publications.
The oldest part of the building — the two-story portion — was built between 1885-1890, according to West Point”s Bryan Public Library.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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