Courthouse consolidation in Habersham County is nearly complete. The county placed all of its courtrooms under one roof when it opened the new judicial center last fall. Now, the county is taking the final step in the process by consolidating court staff. County Commissioners on Monday approved a resolution to place Magistrate Court staff under the direct management of the Habersham County Clerk of Court.
Magistrate Court had its own clerk and staff for years because the courtroom was housed in a building separate from the main courthouse. Now that all courtrooms and judicial offices are in the same building District 2 Commissioner, Andrea Harper, says it just makes sense to bring the staffs together. “This is something I’ve been hoping for years to happen because we’re tried for years to consolidate services. Now that we’ve consolidated the courts we felt it was appropriate to consolidate staff.”
Harper says it’s not clear at this point whether anyone will lose their job. She says she hopes not and adds Habersham County Clerk of Court, David Wall, will evaluate the employees and see where he can place them. She says that process could take weeks or even months.
Harper says the move might save taxpayers money but adds the overriding concern for commissioners in making their decision was how to provide the best possible services for citizens.
