Residents can now see progress at the Polk County Courthouse as a new retaining wall is being installed. 

Brick sidewalks have been removed and the installation of a new retaining wall is being completed on one side of the courthouse.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met July 18 and heard from county engineer Dave Odom.

Odom said work is proceeding and the county has been very pleased with the work from the contractor.

The contractor is Jay’s Lawn Service with commissioners approving a contract in May for $94,160. Construction began on July 5 immediately after the Town of Columbus’ Fabulous Fourth of July celebration held downtown.

The work will also include replacing the brick paver sidewalk and the front staircase along with a new retaining wall surrounding the courthouse.

The last work done on the wall was in the 1980s and the majority of commissioners began discussing the need for repairs or replacement earlier this year.

The county is paying for the wall through leftover contingency funds from last fiscal year’s budget and other line items in last year’s budget.

County officials have not provided a time line of when the new wall is expected to be complete.