Presiding commissioner gives update on Scott County projects

BENTON, Mo. — The Scott County Courthouse in Benton is still undergoing exterior repairs, and two new courtrooms are on their way.

According to Scott County Presiding Commissioner Danny Tetley, the courthouse was already in need of maintenance, but on April 2, several severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through the area and damaged the structure even more.

According to Tetley, the county has been upgrading the terra cotta, or decorative trim, around the top of the building and work continues.

“The damage that was done to the existing courthouse back in April is still in the process of being attended to,” Tetley said. “And it’s going to be a long-term repair. It’s going to take several weeks, if not months, to get completed.

Tetley continued: “They are trying to figure out the best way to disassemble the damage that we had without causing more damage to the courthouse. That’s why we have all of the scaffolding around the back side of the courthouse. That’s going to be use to dissemble the damage in pieces so that we don’t take a chance on large pieces of debris falling through the ceiling of the existing courtroom.”

The courthouse is 112 years old, and Tetley said he’s looking forward to seeing the current project finished.

“It’s just going to be a slow process,” Tetley said. 

Tetley added the Judicial Finance Commission has ordered the construction of two, new county courtrooms.

“Those two courtrooms are going to go across the street right next to the Sheriff’s Office building in the big parking lot,” Tetley said. 

Tetley said commissioners have chosen an architect and a planner to assist them with the project, but construction has not yet started.

“We are just now getting into the final stages of coming up with the floor plan of what it’s going to look like,” Tetley said. 

According to Tetley, the Judicial Finance Commission ordered construction to begin early next year. 

“Early 2025 is when construction will begin,” Tetley said. “We’re hoping that will start in early January, if the weather permits.”