DALTON, Ga. — The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Monday to award a $34,000 architectural services contract to Carter Watkins Associates of Monroe to assess Administrative Buildings 1 and 2 and the county courthouse.

“This is to look at everything — the old part of the courthouse and Administrative Building 1 and Administrative Building 2,” said board Chairman Lynn Laughter. “They will do an evaluation to see what is the best, most efficient course of action for those.”

Commissioners are looking at the possibility of replacing Administrative Building 2 on King Street, which houses the board’s meeting chamber and was built in the 1940s. The building is not handicapped accessible, does not have sprinklers, and the bathrooms clog easily. In addition, the acoustics in the board’s meeting room are poor, and audience members frequently complain they cannot hear commissioners and others when they speak.

Some commissioners have said they want to get a grasp on just how expensive a new building would be and whether there might be a better alternative, such as renovating the courthouse or Administrative Building 1 to meet their needs.

The old part of the courthouse houses various county offices, such as the tax commissioner’s office and the elections office, and also holds a large courtroom that is used by Superior Court for various hearings.

Administrative Building 1 on West Crawford Street holds some county departments. Commissioners have most of their work sessions in that building in a large conference room and the possibility of moving their meetings there has been mentioned, but the room would have to be expanded to hold larger crowds.

Laughter typically votes only in the event of a tie.