The Christian County Courthouse will remain closed for a second day on Friday after a portion of ceiling collapsed on the main floor early Thursday morning before business hours.
The collapse occurred in the area where an elevator was installed several years ago near the front entrance, Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam told Hoptown Chronicle. No injuries were reported.
“Our goal is the reopen on Monday, at least for part of the day,” he said.
Gilliam said David Howell, an engineer with Bell Engineering, inspected the building and his firm will give county officials a report on the damages on Friday. A large red trash container was set Thursday in front of the courthouse on South Main Street to hold debris that will be removed from the building.
“Right now, we anticipate being open on Monday,” County Clerk Melinda Humphries told Hoptown Chronicle in a phone interview Friday morning.
The main floor of the courthouse is the location for all of the Christian County Clerk’s offices, which handle vehicle registrations and tag renewals, property deeds, voter registrations and management of elections. The historic courtroom, where Christian Fiscal Court meets, is on the second floor.
The ceiling collapse occurred on the right side of the building, so that area will likely be cordoned off while repairs are made, and the public will go to service windows on the left side of the hallway, said Humphries.
The courthouse closure could affect residents who are trying to register to vote ahead of the May 19 primary. Kentuckians must be registered by 4 p.m. Monday to be eligible to cast a ballot in the primary.
However, residents also have the option of registering online through the Kentucky Secretary of State’s portal.
Humphries said about 80% of new registrations are processed through the online option.
This story was updated to include additional comments from the county clerk.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
