After weeks of missed deadlines, work on the Lafayette County Courthouse clock tower could potentially be finished next week.

“We have authorized our attorney to file suit to retrieve our clock, and it is to my understanding Lloyd Larish, the guy with The House of Clocks who actually took our clock, will be down here one day next week to re-install the clock,” Lloyd Oliphant, president of the board of supervisors, said.

Oliphant said the clock had not been working properly for some time.

Mike Pickens, District 1 representative to the Board of Supervisors, said that the board wants the clock back after dealing with Larish’s problems for some time.

“The guy we contracted with has not repaired it,” Pickens said. “He kept telling us that he would have it in two weeks, but we have not seen anything.”

Oliphant said the board notified Larish that there would be legal action taken against him if he did not return the clock or complete the terms of the contract.

The contract stated Larish would repair the clock to working order and put it back in place at the top of the courthouse tower for the county.

“Evidently, he had a change of heart after he was notified of our intent to file suit, and he has since notified the county that he will be back before the end of the month to install the clock in proper working order,” Oliphant said.

Both Pickens and Oliphant said that there had been some contemplation about other ways to get the clock running, including talk of buying a new clock to place in the tower.

However, Oliphant said that they have decided to get the clock back from Larish. The only reason a new clock would be bought is if the clock is not back and installed by the end of the month.

The Board of Supervisors will wait to see if Larish carries through with the return of the clock next week.

“He has missed several deadlines through this process,” Oliphant said. “We hope he makes this one.”