TEXARKANA, Ark. - Efforts to re-open the Miller County Courthouse could be completed by early next year.
Miller County Judge's Office Administrative Assistant Carla Jenkins said last week that drying operations could be completed by today on the courthouse's third, second and first floors, along with the basement.
Jenkins said plans tentatively have the courthouse re-opening in January of 2022.
Miller County's Budget and Finance Committee plans to meet at 6 p.m., today, inside the Texarkana, Arkansas, Municipal Building's Board of Directors' second floor meeting room.
There, committee members will discuss establishing and setting up a separate account for the county's insurance funds, Jenkins said.
With all the courthouse's floors soon to be dry, Jenkins said the county's next step in the restoration project will be decided by the building's architect, project manager and the county's insurance claims adjusters once they get a chance to meet and assess the situation going forward.
One of the next main considerations includes the need for asbestos abatement procedures - a situation which will require the courthouse to be completely closed off to everyone except abatement personnel.
Asbestos has been found inside the courthouse's second-floor courtroom as well as in areas on the third floor and in the basement.
Several of the county's main government offices are now operating temporarily in downtown's Landmark Building located at the corner of the East Broad Street and North State Line Avenue.
All five of the courthouse's floors, along with the basement, suffered severe water damage Feb. 20 after below-freezing winter temperatures caused water in the building's water pipe system to freeze and rupture the lines.
Besides discussing setting up a separate insurance fund account, committee members also plan to discuss adding three part-time positions to the county Juvenile Detention Center, as well as creating a services division office for the Sheriff's Office.
Committee members will also consider making budget changes requested by the county's Office of Emergency Services, jail administration and Treasurer's Office, as well as a budget request from the Tex Assessor's Office in addition to overtime pay adjustments requested by the county's Road Department and the County Clerk's Office.
Following the Budget and Finance Committee meeting, the county's Correctional Facilities Committee will meet.