Differences between Helmick's original and alternate plans for the courthouse annex are

The key differences between Helmick's original and alternate plans for the courthouse annex are:

1. The original plan was to demolish the old jail building located behind the courthouse and build a new courthouse annex on that site.

The alternate plan avoids demolishing the old jail building.

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• The alternate plan circumvents this issue by utilizing a different site.
• Instead of constructing a new annex building, the alternate plan likely involves renovating or repurposing an existing structure at a different location, though details are not provided.
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• The original plan was stymied by the inability to get the old jail building removed from the National Register of Historic Places listing.
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• Helmick stated he has saved around $400,000 by eliminating two commission administrative positions, providing funds to potentially purchase a property for the alternate annex plan.
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• So in summary, while the original plan involved demolishing the historic jail for a new annex building, the alternate plan preserves the jail and utilizes an unspecified existing structure elsewhere as the annex site.

 Update

Commission President Walt Helmick has proposed building a new courthouse annex in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

 His original plan to demolish the old jail building behind the courthouse and construct the annex on that site has been stymied by the building's listing on the National Historic Registry.

 Helmick has now identified a new location for the annex - a lot across Judge Street from the courthouse that contains a run-down house which would need to be demolished. The lot consists of five town lots and Helmick believes it would be an ideal spot for the badly needed annex.

 The property owner is asking $87,000 for the lot, and demolishing the old house might cost another $10,000, so the total cost to purchase and prepare the site appears to be less than $100,000. 

However, this does not include the actual construction and equipping costs for the annex building itself. 

Helmick wants to move quickly on the project, but some county residents like Jay Miller have expressed concerns about the rush and questioned whether the annex is truly necessary given the county's declining population. 

There also appears to be some disagreement among the county commissioners about the project.