Work on Adams County’s planned Justice Center took a visible step forward Tuesday as commissioners approved two key site‑analysis contracts and learned that Elevatus Architecture has already begun detailed measurements of the courthouse exterior — including drone flights around the historic building.
The update came as County Engineer Nate described a busy week of early project activity. He told commissioners that Elevatus spent several days in Decatur conducting exterior surveys, using drones to capture measurements and imagery around the courthouse walls and roofline. Commissioners noted the unusual sight downtown, with one joking that he wasn’t sure how the drone‑based measuring worked but was glad to see progress.
With funding appropriated earlier in the morning, commissioners unanimously approved two contracts needed to begin subsurface and boundary work on the future Justice Center site. The first is a $5,500 geotechnical investigation from GME Testing, which will drill five borings in the parking lot across from the courthouse. Nate said the lot will need to be closed during drilling and that he plans to coordinate with courts and probation to minimize disruption, though he warned that the next two years will bring unavoidable construction impacts.
Commissioners also approved a $12,375 ALTA and subsurface survey from Miller Land Surveying. Nate said the survey will cover both the parking lot and the courthouse property, providing a high‑precision boundary map and identifying easements. The work includes ground‑penetrating radar to locate underground utilities before drilling begins — a step he called essential to avoid striking unknown lines.
Commissioners discussed the challenge of scheduling the borings around court calendars, with one noting that employees should begin preparing for long‑term parking disruptions as construction ramps up. Nate agreed, calling this “the first prick of the needle” in what will become a much larger and more visible project.
The approvals mark the first formal steps toward construction of the new Justice Center, which commissioners say will require extensive site preparation, utility mapping, and coordination with courthouse operations. The drone measurements, they added, show that the project is already moving from planning into hands‑on work.