Miller County Mess

‘The second floor looks like a swimming pool’ Pipes burst, courthouse floods, officials work relocation plans

TEXARKANA, Ark. — A historic winter storm has resulted in catastrophic water damage to the Miller County courthouse near downtown Texarkana.

Miller County Judge Cathy Harrison said she will continue to operate from the courthouse though all other offices are expected to relocate. Harrison spoke on the courthouse’s second floor Saturday morning as the sound of water dripping from the ceilings tapped on tile floors and wooden benches. The freezing and sub-zero temperatures which gripped the area for days this week appears to have burst pipes, flooding the historic building.

Prosecuting Attorney

Chuck Black walked the basement that houses his office and those of his staff, shaking his head. A worker warned of collapsing ceiling tiles as staff packed boxes and conferred about what’s next.

Harrison said all the elected officials who occupy space on the courthouse’s first-floor have emergency back-up plans for just such emergencies and will manage their relocations. The first floor houses the county clerk, circuit clerk, county judge, tax assessor, tax collector and more.

Harrison and Black both mentioned that the circuit judges, who occupy offices on the second and third floors and utilize a large courtroom on the second and a smaller one on the third, may relocate temporarily to the Landmark Building in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas.

“The second floor looks like a swimming pool,” Circuit Judge Carlton Jones said. “We’re just trying to save everything we can.”

Miller County’s three circuit judges and district judge will have the option of using a courtroom in the Miller County Correctional Facility as well as one typically used for juvenile court in a county building on Hazel Street.

Damp insulation and ruined ceiling tiles lay strewn about offices. Puddles of water collected on every floor.

Harrison said the scope of the damage won’t be truly known until insurance appraisers begin their work and repairs get underway. But there is no doubt it will be a long time before the courthouse is fully operational.

Staff photo by Kelsi Brinkmeyer ■ The Miller County Circuit Courtroom has water damage to the ceiling, floor and walls, as seen Saturday through the window on the door to the courtroom.

Staff photos by Kelsi Brinkmeyer left ■ The Miller County Courthouse experienced flooding this weekend after damage to a pipe in the building. There is damage on all five floors of the building. Staff covered important objects in plastic to prevent further water damage.

above ■ Donty Weed hands books to his wife, Alma Weed, who is the trial court administrator to Miller County Circuit Judge Carlton Jones. The books, which date back to the 1920s, suffered some water damage.