Laurens County Commission interested in buying federal courthouse

Concerned that the J. Roy Rowland Federal Courthouse could be back on the government chopping block, the Laurens County Commissioners voted Tuesday to send a letter expressing an interest in buying the building.

The letter would be non-binding, but it could “fast-track” the decommissioning process that typically takes up to eight years, County Administrator Bryan Rogers. 

“As long as it’s an exploratory process so we can do our due diligence,” said Commission Chairman Trae Kemp. 

Dublin’s federal courthouse occasionally holds criminal court hearings but still houses a U.S. Post Office and several federal agency offices, and it has bankruptcy court there monthly. The courthouse was on a list in 2012 of 60 buildings eligible to be closed as part of a cost-cutting measure but was spared.

Commissioner Jeff Davis said Dublin Circuit Chief Judge Jon Helton and U.S. Southern District Senior Judge Dudley Bowen have discussed the possibility of the building’s sale and keeping the federal services offered here.

“The federal courthouse has been a target to be closed for many years,” Davis said. “That seems to be picking up steam again with the federal government. Having that building empty and derelict in the middle of downtown is nobody’s best interest. 

“The judges need another courtroom. The building’s more secure. … It’s worth exploring. We wouldn’t be obligated to take it. They wouldn’t be obligated to offer it.”

Rogers said the federal building could generate about $250,000 annually from tenants. However, he said, it would cost about $250,000 each year in operating expenses and about another $250,000 to staff the building with four additional sheriff’s deputies. The county also could be looking at spending $400,000 for a new heating-and-air system and $200,000 for a new roof.

Several commissioners expressed concerns about whether the letter locked the county to a potential sale. One asked if the federal government would even accept an offer.

“Oh, they’ll accept it,” said County Attorney Billy Kight.

Another concern was about the repairs still needed to the front of the courthouse after an 18-wheeler plowed into in May 2023.

“It’s gonna get done, but I don’t think this board or any other board should take it if it’s not,” Davis said.

The county could change its mind later and write a second letter saying it would withdraw it’s interest, Kight said. The only risk, he said, might be offending the judges.

“There might be a little ill will with them, but it’s our obligation to check out all these questions that we have,” Chain said.

“There’s a lot of questions,” added Commissioner Kevin Tanner.

The federal courthouse in Dublin was built in 1937, reportedly because it was cheaper to build a new courthouse than to haul bootleggers elsewhere for prosecution. In 1998, Congress authorized a name change to honor for Congressman J. Roy Rowland.

With the courthouse’s future up in the air again, at least unofficially, Davis said the county should at least investigate ways to keep it open.

“I feel like Judge Bowen knows more than all of us, and that building being closed and empty, with no federal services in Laurens County, is not responsible.”