Posted at: 09/14/2012 6:38 PM
Updated at: 09/14/2012 6:43 PM
By: Steph Crock

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Historic Mitchell County Courthouse Considered Dangerous

(ABC 6 News) -- It's been talked about for months, what to do with the Mitchell County Courthouse building. Many not wanting to tear it down, but news that it's in bad shape might give the county no choice.

It's been a heated topic of discussion whether to demolish the roughly 150 year old courthouse or restore it, but the county was thrown a curve ball when it was told, it's simply too dangerous.

To paint a picture, this courthouse has been standing since Abraham Lincoln was in office and it's certainly seen better days. "People that really have the expert knowledge have said it's time to basically give up. It's too far gone," said Mitchell County Supervisor Stan Walk.

They took us up to the attic, they say, is holding up by a thread. There are a number of boards and poles used for added support.

"I certainly respect the matter of safety. The safety issue for all employees. I don't want anybody working in an unsafe environment," said Osage resident Betty McCarthy.

McCarthy had petitioned against tearing down the historic building a couple weeks ago. Like many others, she had hoped to save it. "A lot of people really and truly would like to, and they just feel that they don't have enough answers," said McCarthy.

"We have no choice," said Walk. Which is why Mitchell County Supervisors held a meeting Friday to decide, if and where, those operating the courthouse should go for now. With a vote of 2-1, the supervisors finally decided to move everyone to "the Plaza" in Osage.

Stan Walk was the one to vote against it. "There could be other options and so when the motion was that we had this ( the Plaza) as our only option, I felt that that was the wrong motion,"  said Walk.

Though the motion was to move everyone out of this courthouse and into the Plaza, the decision is not final until the county supervisors meeting on Tuesday.

This is not a decision on what to do with the historic building. A decision on that will have to wait until the November election.