FRANKLIN COUNTY — Franklin County Circuit Clerk Jim Muir says more town hall meetings have been scheduled to discuss the county’s proposed new Franklin County Courthouse in Benton and the sales tax referendum that if approved on April 2, will generate revenue only for this project.

Muir says besides Tuesday night’s meeting at the Benton Elks Banquet Room and the one scheduled for Tuesday, March 14 at the Zeigler Fire Station, meetings will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Christopher Civic Center, Tuesday, March 5 at the West Frankfort Mall Event Center and Thursday, March 14 at the Coello Community Center. All meetings will begin at 6 p.m.

Voters in Franklin County will decide on April 2 if they want a one percent sales tax increase that will generate revenue for construction of a new courthouse and nothing else.

The current courthouse was built in the 1870s and is in dire need of replacing due to physical and structural problems. County leaders were told recently by a local architectural firm that the courthouse is not worth renovating and it would be cheaper to build a new courthouse.

The sales tax would sunset once the courthouse is paid off.