Monday, April 6, 2026
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Floyd County Commission has approved a contract for the stabilization of the Historic Floyd County Courthouse following the March 23 fire, with hopes of being able to reopen Fifth Avenue soon.
Virginia-based Quality Plus Services Inc. was the low bidder at $407,680.
That’s in addition to $15,000 for engineering of the structural steel band to go around the bell tower, approximately in $20,000 for performance bond cost, and a $77,000 contingency.
The agreement is pending final legal review.
The structural engineer has recommended that until the stabilization process is complete, the streets around the old courthouse remain closed.
“Within 24 hours of receiving the purchase order, they will be on-site,” said Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord. ”They are asking for a 50 percent payment in advance, once the PO is issued, to allow them to procure materials and equipment. I’m a little uncomfortable about when we finalize the contract. It could be 24 or maybe 48 hours on the contract. Three weeks is, I’m hoping, the worst-case scenario to get Tribune Street and Fifth Avenue back open.”
This is just the first phase, and McCord explained the stabilization work.
“It will basically be the Tribune Street side and the river side of the historic courtroom walls,” he said. “There are really high ceilings, really long spans. The gable ends, where the wooden roofs were burned and failed, to the point where you’ve got no support holding the gables up. There will be some debris to be removed, and that will be in addition to their contract. There will be bricks, whether they are damaged or intact, that we will maintain and sustain separately, so that if we do rebuild in some way, shape, or form, those can be utilized and will not be lost.”
After the structure is stabilized, it will allow the insurance adjuster to get inside.
Then, county officials can make a determination as to what to do regarding the future of the old courthouse.
Also, during a called meeting on Monday, the commission approved a request for an additional emergency allocation of $150,000 for the temporary relocation of operations once housed in the old courthouse. Most of the allocation is for equipment.
“Computer and monitor replacements are at $37,500,” McCord said. “They also need document scanners, TV mounts for the tax appraiser, shredders, clocks, and cash drawers for the tax commissioners. We also need currency scanners for the tax commissioner’s office. They obviously deal in a lot of cash, and they also need a safe.”
The county commission had previously approved an allocation of $100,000 to move the tax commissioner, tax Assessor, and tag office to the former joint law enforcement center across the street.
The county’s insurance is covering the cost.
Floyd County News Release:
At their Monday, April 6, 2026, special-called meeting, the Floyd County Board of Commissioners approved expenses and a proposal to contract Quality Plus Services, in an amount not to exceed $520,000 for the stabilization of the Historic Courthouse, pending final legal review. This is the first step in the process to address critical life-safety measures for the prevention of damage to surrounding properties and anyone using or working in those areas. Once stabilization is complete, further evaluation of the structure will continue.
The post-fire structural stabilization process will include:
- removal of metal coping, loose bricks, fire-consumed wood, and gabled brick ends of the Courthouse that no longer have roof support
- partially removing the compromised walls of the historic courtroom, located facing Tribune Street and the Etowah River, through a selective dismantling process
- temporary reinforcement of 28 window openings
- engineering and installing a temporary structural band around the outside of the clock tower, located approximately 45 ft. up
The stabilization process will ensure safety around the site, allowing for additional assessment, and will open roads to residents and businesses. All salvageable building components, including bricks, will be selectively dismantled and stored until a decision is reached on reuse. The projected completion time is three to four weeks after mobilization.
During the meeting, the Board of Commissioners also approved an emergency allocation of $150,000 for the temporary relocation of Historic Courthouse operations in the former Law Enforcement Center. This includes all equipment necessary for day-to-day operations.
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