Photo by Photo courtesy of Rebecca Barksdale, Community Outreach Director, Tarrant County.

Over 300 people attended the ribbon cutting for the new Northeast Tarrant County Courthouse Feb. 23. Attendees included the general public, city and county employees and elected officials from around the area.

Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes led the ceremony and offered remarks before the ceremony ended.

"We outgrew the old facility years ago and have operated in cramped quarters that were inefficient," Fickes said during the ceremony. "By upgrading technology, expanding office sizes to meet present and future demand, and offering more parking for our citizens, this new courthouse is more accessible and efficient."

The new 42,000-square-foot-building came at a cost of $12.8 million and replaces the former two-story building that served the area for 40 years.

The courthouse is located at 645 Grapevine Highway in Hurst. It serves the communities of Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Euless, Keller and Bedford.

The courthouse is home to Precinct 3 offices, including the constable, county clerk, justice of the peace and the county commissioner. In addition, it has an office for the Tax Assessor-Collector (where individuals can renew their motor vehicle registration), a community room and a branch of the Tarrant County Credit Union.