Courthouse Remodel
At its regular meeting yesterday the Commssion took a crucial step toward remodeling the courthouse when it voted to enter into a four million dollar loan with the Bank of the Pacific. The loan is for 15 years at 4.5%, for an annual repayment amount of $367,200. No loan fee, no prepayment penalty. Additional fees include loan document preparation ($5,000 or less) and Bond Consel fees ($17,500 or less).
Mike Robison presented the financing plan and made quick reference to the fact that the loan is more than was discussed at the Courthouse Planning Work Session because the bids for seismic upgrades to the 800 Exchange Building have since come in 50 percent higher than the $537,000 currently budgeted and may go even higher. About a million dollars of Special Projects funds that would have reduced the loan amount for the Courthouse are now being diverted to the costs of those seismic upgrades.
Total cost of the project is estimated at $4,131,294. It includes a new courtroom and "court set" (offices for the third judge and staff) on the main floor of the courthouse and a temporary holding cell for inmates in trial. Costs are included to move the Juvenile Department to the 800 Exchange building from the Courthouse's third floor, freeing up that space for the hazardously over-crowded DA's office to expand. Child and Victims's Services will be moved from their windowless room on the third floor to a more suitable and workable space in the basement, and there will be expanded room in te basement for the Grand Jury.
A second phase for some financially robust future would provide another four million dollars for a separate, secure elevator to the courtrooms for innmates, move the DA's office to 800 Exchange, upgrade the mechanical and electrical systems, provide better access for people with disabilities, and some cosmetic upgrades.
Meanwhile, Phase 1 is an excellent plan that satisfies all parties and will serve them -- and us -- well for many years. It's good and timely work that will have a proper courtroom ready when the new judge takes the bench January 1.
3 Comments:
So will how much room will the courtroom take up?
IIUC the earthquake upgrades really cost 1 million?
I'm not really familar with what is involved, but it must be a lot.
Who's going to pay this bill and where will the money come from?
Where did the community play into the approval of funding for this project?
Is it just because the "Timber Fund" money is available that "The Commission" feel they can use it as they wish without citizen approval?
The courthouse remodel has been on the table for years -- I've got a space planning study dated July 1998 -- and timber funds have been designated for capital improvements for years too. A new judge starts January 1 and we have to have room for her or him and staff. I have to say I think the public process has been about as good as it gets on this issue without TV or radio broadcasts, and without Commissioners who hold public forums.
The new courtroom and court support offices will all be on the main floor of the Courthouse and are designed to fit within the inside outer walls -- in other words, the lovely lobby will remain intact. The Courtroom itself will be 1,600 square feet, the same size as Judge Nelson's courtroom in the basement.
By the way, Judge Nelson was given the option of moving to the main floor but he likes it where he is.
The seismic upgrades are to the Administration building at 800 Exchange. (The Courthouse was retrofitted a few years ago.) I have no idea why it's so expensive.
The budget also has $322,300 for "remodel" of 800 Exchange, after $675,200 for the current fiscal year. This is the one I really don't get. First of all, the Courthouse remodel includes money for moving the Juvenile Dept to 800 Exchange, which would include remodeling 800 Exchange for their needs. Second, during the Courthouse Remodel presentation at the BOCC meeting on Wednesday, Mike Robison mentioned "new windows" for 800 Exchange.
I haven't been able to get a good answer about exactly what remodeling is being planned and I've been unhappy for years about the amount of money Administration spends on itself, and how Admin puts itself first in budgets, over and above direct services to citizens.
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