Floyd County Approves $520K Contract to Stabilize Fire-Damaged Historic Courthouse

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — The Floyd County Board of Commissioners has approved a contract of up to $520,000 to begin stabilizing the county’s historic courthouse following fire damage, officials announced Monday.

The decision came during a special called meeting on April 6, 2026, and remains pending final legal review. County leaders said the stabilization effort marks the first step in addressing urgent safety concerns and preventing further damage to nearby properties and individuals in the area.

According to officials, the post-fire stabilization work will include removing compromised structural elements such as metal coping, loose bricks, fire-damaged wood, and unsupported sections of the building’s gabled brick ends. Crews will also partially dismantle weakened walls in the historic courtroom facing Tribune Street and the Etowah River.

Additional measures include reinforcing 28 window openings and installing a temporary structural band around the courthouse clocktower, approximately 45 feet above ground.

County officials said the work is necessary to secure the site and allow for further structural evaluation once stabilization is complete. The process is also expected to make the surrounding area safer, enabling roads near the courthouse to reopen to residents and businesses.

All salvageable materials, including bricks, will be carefully removed and stored for potential future use, though no final decisions have been made regarding reconstruction.

The stabilization project is expected to take three to four weeks to complete once crews begin work.

During the same meeting, commissioners also approved a $150,000 emergency allocation to temporarily relocate courthouse operations to the former Law Enforcement Center. The funding will cover necessary equipment to maintain daily functions while the courthouse remains unusable.