Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday called the condition of the Lauderdale County Courthouse “concerning” after a brief tour of the building.

The governor stopped by the courthouse after participating in a local business’ ribbon cutting earlier in the day.

“You’ve got judges who are trying to hold trials and plaster falling,” Bryant said. “It obviously is in desperate need of repair. The occupancy has certainly outgrown it…People of Lauderdale County need to understand we’re going to have to as a state and as a county support Meridian in their downtown effort. But this courthouse is a symbol to the people that serve and live here in Lauderdale County, and I hope we can find a way to help them.”

The governor said some funding could come from the Mississipi Department of Archives and History or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lauderdale County Supervisor Jonathan Wells, who joined the governor on the courthouse tour, said the meeting was “productive.”

“We want him to know that we’re trying to work in conjunction with Archives and History,” Wells said. “We might need his help down the road on things like grants and things such as that.”

Wells said the next step in the process is a June 27 meeting with “preservation experts” from Archives and History. 

“We’re trying to find some traction to get the ball rolling, so we feel like after that meeting next week we’ll be able to do that,” he said. “This is number-one for us, but it is a process.”

County Administrator Chris Lafferty said the tour was a good way to show citizens that county government is working to fix the situation.

“A lot of people think it’s not a priority for the Lauderdale County leadership, but when the governor comes to look at it — that’s a priority,” Lafferty said.

Currently, the board of supervisors is studying possible solutions. Belinda Stewart, of Belinda Stewart Architects, from Eupora, delivered a 66-page study to the board in December, recommending potential solutions, including: 

• Adding on to the courthouse and renovating the Courthouse Annex at a price of $37.95 million;

• Not adding on to the existing courthouse but renovating the annex and removing the existing jail at a price of $37.27 million;

• Renovating the courthouse and adding on and selling the annex at a price of $30.9 million. The current jail is not included in the plan;

• Moving all county business to the old Village Fair Mall site at a projected price of $43.65 million;

• Moving all county business to the Village Fair Mall and selling lots around the site for private development at a projected price of $46.75 million.

Wells said he personally favors keeping the courthouse in its current location rather than relocating across town.

“I think as time has passed, time has just showed us the right place to go would be downtown,” Wells said. “But I’m saying that as Jonathan Wells, not on behalf of the board.”

Staff Writer Whitney Downward contributed to this report.