Frank discussions concerning the future of the Lauderdale County Courthouse and other hot-button issues were discussed at Monday’s Board of Supervisors work session.

    Items also discussed were the $14 million bond issued in 2013, the $10 million road bond issue passed in 2012 and road and purchase of new road and bridge equipment.

    District 2 Supervisor Wayman Newell offered his proposal concerning the courthouse and $3.2 million bond issue, which was part of a larger $14 million bond issue that was to pay for new athletic facilities on both city- and county-owned land and pay for improvements to the Lauderdale County Courthouse.

    “I feel like we need to discuss all of it in one these roads and bridge equipment and courthouse situation; it’s more like $12.8 million,” Newell said. “In my opinion, we need to hold this money and break it down. I think we need to set aside at least $2 million and set aside $500,000-$700,000 for asbestos removal.

    “Then you’ve got issues with recreation. I don’t have a problem with putting $1 million into recreational sites. You’ll have $8 million left for roads. That comes to a total of $12.7 million.”

    Newell mentioned the city of Tupelo’s 32.5 mill ad valorem tax per year.

    “We’re always trying to attract industry. If you’re trying to attract industry, maybe we need to get our roads in better shape,” he said.

    When supervisors approved the $14 million bond issue in 2013, it was proposed $3.8 million be used to build a 32,000-square-foot sports complex that would house a four-court gym with bleachers at Highland Park. Approximately $3.5 million of the bond money was to go to the county-owned fields of the West Lauderdale Youth Association and $2.5 million to the county-owned Clarkdale Community Recreation Association park construction. The remaining $4.2 million was to fund a partial renovation of the Lauderdale County Courthouse.

    Supervisors have haggled for weeks over what architectural firm to hire for the courthouse project. Architectural firms in the running include Belinda Stewart Architects of Eupora, Meridian’s LPK Architects and a joint venture proposed by Jerry Hobgood and Mitchell Marshall. Supervisors said the board will decide at next Monday’s board meeting on which architect to hire.

    Possible sites for a new courthouse being considered include the former Village Fair Mall, the former Sears building, the upper floors of the former Federal Courthouse and the former Kate Griffin Junior High School. Another possibility is leaving the courthouse as is and add on.

    District 3 Supervisor Josh Todd said the old mall site or renovation of the existing courthouse are his choices.

    “Renovating the courthouse of the Village Fair Mall are the only two options for me,” Todd said.

    “Buying the Village Fair Mall is a good consideration. I think you need consulting advice before you go in that direction,” Board Attorney Rick Barry told supervisors. “Twenty-five years from now the public will remember what you did about the courthouse. I think you will be remembered in a positive manner and not like a previous board was when it put the jail on top of the courthouse 50 or 60 years ago.”

    Board President Joe Norwood asked the obvious question about courthouse space.

    “We all know the courthouse is not big enough. We’re still dealing with space issues,” Norwood said. “How much space do we really need?”

    Norwood also said the city should do a master plan for downtown.

    “I don’t want to move the courthouse from downtown. That’s downtown’s life blood,” he said.

    Newell has long been on record for not pumping any more money into an old courthouse.

    “You’ve got needs and you’ve got wants. The most needed is a courthouse,” Newell said. “If you can’t take the jail off the top of the courthouse, I’m for a new courthouse.”

    The board also talked about environmental issues at possible sites and whether other sites were large enough for parking.

    “I want us to look at every option available,” District 1 Supervisor Jonathan Wells said.

    District 5 Supervisor Kyle Rutledge said a decision needs to be made.

    “I think we need to build something new somewhere,” Rutledge said.

     A number of courthouse and county employees were asked their opinion concerning courthouse space.

    Visit Meridian Executive Director Dede Mogollon said her office has looked into other options.

    “The tourism department has been actively pursing a location on the interstate to move its offices to and combine it with a visitor’s center,” Mogollon said. “A location had been identified before the Village Fair Mall option was considered. That location’s availability expires in July.”

    Wells asked board members if another road bond issue is in order.

    “Do we want to take road bond money from the $14 million bond or do we want to do a new road bond,” Wells asked. “I’m trying to get every option to every idea out there to help make the right choice. It’s going to start with picking the architect and let them do the studies. Once they do that, hopefully that will lead the way to where we need to go on monetary decisions.”

    Todd said the meeting was positive.

    “This was a great meeting. Everybody spoke about what was on their mind,” Todd said. Everything was put on the table and everything was discussed in a professional manner.”