As crews prepared to replace the sidewalk on the south side of the Bates County Courthouse, a cistern measuring about 15 feet wide and some 20 feet deep was discovered which will now add work to the project.
According to records, the courtyard has several similar cisterns which have also been capped with rebar and concrete over the years.
At this time officials are in the process of deciding if the void should be filled or capped with rebar and concrete as before.
Staff photo
