BENTON — Problems continue to plague the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton and it seems the laundry list is growing regarding the physical structure of the facility that was built in 1874.

Franklin County Board Chairman Randall Crocker says the courthouse is still in bad shape and the county board is going to have to decide sometime in the future what its going to do about the roof and elevator.

He says not only will the board have to look at the cost of fixing both issues at the courthouse, but why the county still does business there.

Crocker says he’s been told that the facility could be without an elevator for two to three months which could pose a problem for the courts.

Crocker says there won’t be a new elevator installed in the courthouse. The existing car will be used. Upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems along with a new control panel, a new door closer and electrical components in the electrical room will cost less that $80,000. Fixing the shingles on the roof will cost about $40,000.

Crocker says the courthouse is still a struggle for the county board and hopes to get county residents behind something new or find a way to bring in the money needed to fix the problems.