Ribbon-cutting, public tours at new Forsyth Co. Courthouse

CUMMING - A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Forsyth County Courthouse was held Thursday, followed by public tours of the complex.

The ceremony included remarks by Forsyth County Commission Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos, Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, Court Administrator Robin Rooks, Chief Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley and Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Hugh P. Thompson.

The first place winners of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit's time capsule essay contest read their winning essays as part of the program. Jacob Ruiz of Cornerstone Schools won first place among middle school students and Erin Tozier of Forsyth Central High School won first place among high school students.

In addition to touring the new courthouse, the public got a chance to see the items that will be placed in a time capsule which will be interred in the courthouse's cornerstone at a future date.

The courthouse will officially open for business on Monday. Until that time, the existing courthouse will remain operational.

A new county jail is being built adjacent to the new courthouse and is scheduled to open later this year.

"Without the voters' approval of SPLOST VII, we would not have been able to construct the new courthouse and jail, which are absolutely critical components of Forsyth County's judicial and public safety infrastructure," Amos said at the ribbon-cutting. "A sincere thank you is extended to the residents of Forsyth County for recognizing the need for these new facilities and for approving for them to be funded by the SPLOST penny sales tax."

The new courthouse is approximately 158,000 square feet. The building includes five floors plus a basement and will house Superior Court, State Court, Solicitor-General, District Attorney, Clerk of Courts, Court Administration, Grand Jury, Jury Assembly, Pre-Trial Services, Accountability Courts and Indigent Defense. Approximately 30,000 square feet of the new courthouse remains unfinished, to allow for future expansion.

County spokeswoman Jodi Gardner said the cost of construction only for the two facilities breaks down like this:

Jail $44,129,027.50
Courthouse $33,655,121.60