This winter, the Haywood County Board of Commissioners will begin discussing what to do with the historic courthouse on Main Street in Waynesville once the new justice center is completed in 2005.

Plans formulated by the previous board of commissioners involved a major $4 million renovation of the 1932, classic revival courthouse for county offices.

The historic courthouse currently houses court functions and county government. All court functions will move into the new building, allowing cramped county workers to spread out. Unless costs are too high, commissioners say they want to convert the old jail on the top two floors of the courthouse into offices that could be used by non-profit agencies if there is enough room.

The commissioners also say they want to preserve the large, historic courtroom on the second floor, complete with balcony, detailed woodwork, arched windows and a stone tablet engraved with the Ten Command-ments — something now barred in courtrooms.

“It’s the largest and nicest courtroom I’ve ever practiced in,” said Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick, an attorney.

Commissioner Mark Swanger would like to analyze the county’s needs before deciding how to use the courthouse.

County Manager Jack Horton said some schematics work was done during the planning for the new justice center. Cost estimates for a complete renovation of the historic courthouse — plumbing, wiring, heating, new elevators — exceed $4 million.

“It does have to retain the historic integrity of the building but yet make it functional,” said Horton.