Sheriff, 911 move offices into new courthouse

The Union County Sheriff's Office has moved its administrative offices into the county's new courthouse.

An update on the move was shared at last Friday morning's regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners. The meeting was at the community center in Jonesboro.

Union County Sheriff David Livesay reported that the move by his department's administrative offices into the new courthouse was made on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

The administrative office for the county's 911 program also has moved into the new courthouse.

Livesay noted that the Union County Highway Department provided a great deal of help with the move.

"The highway department helped us tremendously," Livesay.

The sheriff's administrative offices had been located on the second floor of a building which is situated next door to the county's old courthouse.

The offices now are located on the lower level of the county's new courthouse. The new facility is located directly behind the old building.

Dispatch operations for the sheriff's office and 911 remain in the old building for the time being.

Livesay said that operations in the new courthouse were "running well."

Plans currently call for new communications equipment which will be used by the sheriff's office and the county 911 system to go on line during the week of Jan. 14. "State of the art" equipment is being installed, the sheriff said.

The move by the sheriff's office was one of the highlights of an update on the construction of the new courthouse.

The update was presented to the commissioners by courthouse construction project manager Mike Smith.

Other highlights from the report follow:

Dec. 28 was the 318th day of construction at the new courthouse.

Kevlar panels were being installed in the courtroom bench positions behind wood panels.

The circuit clerk's new offices were complete. The office was scheduled to begin moving into the new building on Dec. 17.

A projected timeline for the project through May includes:

•911 switches control from the old building to the new courthouse when testing is completed.

•Old courthouse offices will begin moving in mid-February.

•Demolition of the old courthouse, sheriff's office and three neighboring houses will start in late February.

•Completion of all construction and demolition work and moving operations is slated in late March or early April.

•A dedication ceremony for the new courthouse tentatively is planned for Saturday, May 11.

<p>The new sheriff's office and 911 facility is located on the lower north side of the new courthouse.</p>