Turner County’s courthouse set to be demolished

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — After battling flooding and other issues, Turner County has decided to tear down its aging courthouse.

Even though the courthouse stands out as the most identifiable landmark in the town of Parker, the decision to take it down was a pretty easy one.

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For over 120 years, this courthouse built on a small hill on the south end of Main Street has been a prominent feature in Parker, but it’s going to be torn down.

“You hate to lose a historical building like this; that’s never easy,” Turner County Commission Chairman Jared Hybertson said.

Turner County Commission Chairman Jared Hybertson and Turner County State’s attorney Katelynn Hoffman say the courthouse has seen better days.

The first problem started with mold that was found in the building.

Then structural engineers found sagging ceiling fans from high humidity.

Numerous offices had to evacuate from the east side of the building due to trusses that had sunk more than a foot.

And water had leaked into the building through windows and the roof.

“One thing we uncovered led to another thing, the foundation was shifting there were a lot of issues and we just felt it was unsafe and we had to make a decision,” Hybertson said.

“I think a lot of the employees were uncomfortable and it got to a point where we couldn’t hold court when the courtroom was full of shorings and you could definitely notice the deflection in the flooring,” Hoffman said.

The courthouse has been the main attraction here in Parker for 124 years and even though it’s going to be torn down the residents here say they know it’s time.

“Born and raised in Parker, so obviously this has been a pillar in Parker and Turner County for years and years, so it’s hard to see it go, but you know it got to a point where public safety became an issue, so I understand the direction we have to move,” Hoffman said.

“We put a lot of time and energy and thought into this, again it’s not what everybody wants to lose something like this but at the end of the day it was the right decision,” Hybertson said.

Hoffman says they’ve been holding court proceedings in McCook County for the past year.

Turner County passed a $19 million bond to build a new courthouse in the same location that should take about a year and a half to complete.

The demolition crew arrives next week to begin tearing it down and KELOLAND News plans to be there when it happens.