News

County breaks ground on $100M courthouse addition

Henderson County commissioners Jay Egolf, Rebecca McCall, Bill Lapsley, Michael Edney and Sheila Franklin plus construction managers turn dirt to celebrate the start of construction on a $100 million courthouse expansion. The four-story courthouse is scheduled to open in the fall of 2028.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 13, 2026

Henderson County commissioners, administrators and construction managers on Monday celebrated the start of the costliest capital project in the local government’s history, tossing ceremonial scoots of dirt at the North Grove Street site.

Commissioners voted 3-2 on March 16 to authorize the $101 million four-story courthouse addition, which along with a major jail expansion brought the total cost of JCAR — Judicial Center Addition and Renovation — to $170 million.

The three most senior commissioners — Chair Bill Lapsley, Vice Chair Michael Edney and Rebecca McCall — voted yes while the newest members, Sheila Franklin and Jay Egolf, voted no. All five, however, participated in Monday’s groundbreaking.

The 90,500-square-foot project includes an underground secure parking lot for judges, a gated lot for employees and public parking where the sheriff’s impound lot used to be. The four-story annex includes two courtrooms per floor. The work is projected to be finished in the fall of 2028.

“We’re very proud of the project,” county commission Chair Bill Lapsley said. “It’s been a long time coming. This board has worked on it actively for over seven years with architects and contractors in order to obtain not only an efficient and value-engineered project, but one which will serve the citizens well for many, many years to come. It represents the commitment by the county commissioners on behalf of the citizens of our county who may have come in an adverse way to (violate) our laws and ordinances” but also to those who use the services of the tax office, register of deeds and clerk of court.

“So it serves a lot of folks in the county,” Lapsley said. “We’re very proud of our past, and we really are proud, and look forward to this facility, serving the citizens in the future.”