CHARLES CITY — Floyd County voters on Tuesday approved a bond referendum to upgrade the courthouse and build a new jail and law enforcement center. The county can now borrow up to $13.5 million for the project.

The unofficial results show the referendum passing by 68.72 percent. The county needed 60 percent.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department posted this message on its Facebook page after learning of the election victory:

“The unofficial votes are in and looks like our LEC and courthouse projects passes at over 68%. The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office wants to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who voted, took the tours and listened to our presentations. A special THANK YOU to our citizens campaign committee and all the people involved with this project since it started over 5 years ago.

“We look forward to moving to the next phase of design and construction. Again thank you everyone. NOW WAS THE TIME!”

According to the county website, the project will include construction of a single story law enforcement center that includes the sheriff’s office, a 32-bed jail facility, communications (dispatch) center, and a secure elevator separating inmates from the public for access to the third and fourth floor courtrooms.  A lobby will connect the new center with the existing courthouse. A multi-purpose room serving as an emergency operating center, training room and meeting room is available from the lobby for public access.

Improvements are also planned for the 1941 courthouse, including a replacement of windows to the original look of the courthouse, a new heating and cooling system and a reconfiguration of space needs for certain offices.