Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Plans are for the Pike County Judicial Complex to reopen on Wednesday. 

Pike County Commission Chairman Chad Copeland said last week’s winter storm caused mechanical failures in five out of 96 pump motors in the building’s HVAC water circulation system. Copeland said the water in the circulation system got too cold and caused gaskets in five pumps to blow, which led to widespread flooding in the building. 

“This was a cold weather problem,” Copeland said. “The system should have prevented it, but it didn’t. We don’t know what caused the problem yet. But, we had an engineer here looking at it and the system has been repaired and tested.”

Copeland said two additives were added to the HVAC water circulation system to prevent microbiological growth in tanks and pipes. Copeland said the additives were a concern, and the county called in an expert to address the issue. Copeland said he was told the additives weren’t toxic and could be safely removed through normal cleaning. 

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said the sheriff’s offices, investigator’s offices, district attorney offices, two judicial offices and a courtroom had been flooded. In addition, he said the juvenile probation offices were partially flooded.

Copeland said one of the pumps that failed was in the mezzanine, which enabled water to spread and cause flooding throughout the building. 

Copeland said Alabama Restoration had been contracted for clean-up. He said Alabama Restoration was still on site and clean-up was still ongoing. 

Copeland said the building would require replacement of sheetrock and ceiling tiles as well as a thorough cleaning and possibly the replacement of some carpet. In addition, he said there were some office furnishings and equipment that would have to be replaced. 

Copeland said the complex was insured locally through Witherington Insurance and an adjustor was on site Monday. 

Copeland said the county was continuing to move forward with reopening the building to the public on Wednesday. He said there would still be some ongoing cleanup Wednesday, but employees would be able to work around those areas.