Courthouse Experiences More Electrical Problems PDF Print E-mail
By JOEL McNEECE
Calhoun County officials got another scare Monday night regarding the courthouse, but this time it wasn’t the potential cost of a new facility. It was the survival of the current one.
Courthouse employees noticed power-related problems around lunch that led Pontotoc Electric Power Association (PEPA) personnel to come exchange a transformer behind the building.
Around 4 p.m., Circuit Clerk Debbie Dunn reported the lights were blinking again in the courthouse and the fire alarms were ultimately set off.
courthouse_rain“The lights would dim on and off,” Chancery Clerk Jess Moore said.
Electricians, PEPA, county fire departments and county officials were all on scene until nearly midnight studying the situation. All of the transformers behind the building were changed out at that time.
The building had similar issues Friday following what was believed to be a lightning strike on the northeast corner of the building above the tax assessor’s office.
Electrical problems fried surge protectors in the chancery clerk’s office and a new air conditioning unit in the circuit clerk’s office.
There were also power-related problems at the courthouse over Labor Day weekend. Moore said the power issues have created havoc with the computer systems with machines shutting down unexpectedly.
“We’ve got a problem,” Moore said. “We just don’t know where it is.”
Bob Wells, PEPA?Manager in Bruce, said he suspects the recent troubles are related to the Friday lightning strike.
Wells voiced his appreciation to Homeland Security, Supervisor J.B. Rogers, Chancery Clerk Jess Moore, and the Pittsboro Fire Department for their assistance.
Twice in 2008 the courthouse filled with smoke with electrical problems.