The Circuit Court grand jury called the Lauderdale County Courthouse an embarrassment in a report released Thursday.

The criticism is only the latest of numerous grand jury reports over many years to cite safety hazards at the courthouse, which was built in 1903 and identified as needing repairs for more than 40 years.

“The Grand Jury is disappointed the Board of Supervisors have allowed the courthouse to deteriorate and become such a health and safety hazard to its citizens and employees,” the report states.

Since December, 2016, the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors has authorized more than $230,000 in fees to Belinda Stewart Architects, LPK Architects and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company for advice on fixing the courthouse, but they have been cautious in taking action.

While plans have been made to relocate some courthouse workers, the supervisors are waiting for the U.S. Postal Service to agree to sell the county the old federal courthouse building as part of a solution to relocate offices and courtrooms while the county courthouse is renovated.

“We, the Grand Jury, strongly urge that the Board of Supervisors have air quality, mold and asbestos inspections conducted inside the courthouse,” the report continued. “The Grand Jury also recommends that the Board of Supervisors and the company testing these issues inside the courthouse publish the results of said test within 30 days of the conduction of the inspection. The Grand Jury wants the citizens to be informed of the conditions of the courthouse and the hazard it poses to employees and visitors.”

Other needs listed by the grand jury include:

• Renovation of the Circuit Courtroom.

• Replacement of unsafe windows.

• A safe, clean place to store court files.

• Additional space for the district attorney’s office.

• Additional space at the jail for detectives to conduct interviews.

The Grand Jury, also, asked for citizens to become involved in pushing for a solution.

“The Grand Jury requests that the citizens of Lauderdale County contact the Board of Supervisors regarding the progress or lack of progress in making a decision to move all employees out of the courthouse immediately and into adequate working spaces until a decision is made to demolish or renovate the courthouse,” the report states.