By Danny Federico Riverbend News
Repairs to the Lafayette County Courthouse clock tower are expected to be made in the coming months. The repairs, which are estimated to begin in the spring, will include improving and restoring the clock tower structure, architectural elements, metal siding, clock face and the roof.
According to Steve Land, Lafayette County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, the Board of County Commissioners has been aware of the clock tower's issues for about five years. Now, they are working with Clemons, Rutherford and Associates, an architectural firm based out of Tallahassee, to get the repairs done. Land says the estimated cost for the restoration project is around $575,000, which each commissioner has taken part in securing funding for. They have also received assistance from multiple other county offices. The restoration effort will take nine to 12 months and is not expected to cause any major closures to the courthouse or roads during the repairs.
The courthouse, which was first opened in 1908, "has been a centerpiece of our town and our county for over 100 years. It is important that we maintain it in every way to ensure it will last for another 100 years," Land said. "Our community is very proud of the building and the history it represents."
In the 2019-20 Florida Senate Local Funding Initiative Request filed by County Commissioner Anthony Adams, District 5 representative, Adams states, "At least 5,000 individuals are expected to be served by this project." The outcome, he wrote, "is to preserve the historical significance of the clock tower along with providing a higher level of safety to citizens and constitutional officers working within the courthouse" by removing risk by replacing "failing early 1900s materials."
The Lafayette County Courthouse is located at 120 W Main St. in Mayo.