Water main break closes county courthouse annex in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A water main break in downtown Daytona Beach forced court officials to close the county courthouse annex at City Island Thursday afternoon.

Water gushed through cracks in the sidewalk on Orange Avenue with enough pressure to lift the sidewalk.

Some residents weren't happy to find they couldn't attend to their business at the courthouse.

"(I've driven) 35 miles and I'm supposed to be in court today, and I come here and it's closed and it's really bad," said one woman, who said she drove from Deltona.

Officials for the courthouse annex said that with no running water for the bathrooms, the courthouse could not remain open.

Shutting down the courthouse was an inconvenience for a large number of people. The annex handles everything from traffic citations to marriages and restraining orders.

Court officials said hearings scheduled for that courthouse are being rescheduled, and those affected are being notified.

"Having our Volusia County courthouse annex closed may in fact be very hurtful to the causes of a number of people," said attorney John Norton.

Officials said they tried to call everyone with a hearing schedule for Thursday to alert them to the closure. Not all of them received the message and residents paying traffic tickets didn't get alert.

"It's just troublesome to be driving so far to come here and I could be doing something else, of course. I could be working instead," said one woman.

Officials said they the courthouse will reopen Friday at 8 a.m.

A boil water notice was issued for the City Island area, which includes Cubs Stadium and a park.

WFTV