The commissioners hosted a meeting to discuss RQAW's Plans for the Courts, Jail, and Administration Buildings on 13 February 2009 at noon in the Commissioners Room. All three judges, the sheriff, county clerk, prosecutor, commissioners, and several others attended to see three options being discussed and to comment on them.
The total plan costs are estimated to run between $33.3 and 38.7 million.
Discussion from judges and prosecutor centered on how long the projects would take to complete ( about 2 + years), costs, desire to keep all courts in the courthouse, and logistics of safety with regard transport of prisoners.
There is an option to add the 4th floor on top of the current adm building, add a courtyard and transfer corridor ( 2 stories) between the courthouse and adm bldg, and a new 30,000 sq ft bldg across the street either by purchasing empty land or the old Shumway and Votaw buildings.
There is considerable real estate in the plans being consumed by parking lots. There is no mention of a parking garage. There was no discussion of the old I&M building.
Financing seems to need much more discussion as does the referendum that would be necessary to spend this tax money - if it is not broken down in to different projects. Referendums are required if the project is over $12 million per RQAW. There are issues with redoing the bonds that are coming due as apparently they have already been redone once, so that is no longer an option. Commissioners apparently would like to do this without tax increase.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 with Commissioner Thompson asking attendees to look it all over and submit comments or questions to him.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
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