Monday, March 13, 2000
Center funding on shaky ground
Courthouse may be built in phases
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — Funding for Boone County's proposed justice center had a rocky start in the state budget process this week, leaving local officials holding their breath.
A subcommittee of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee voted this week not to fund five projects requested by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
One is the second phase of Boone County's proposed justice center, which will eventually hold the circuit clerk's office as well as district and circuit courts.
But the full committee decided Friday to add the amount for the projects back in.
“All we know is that we were awarded $8 million in the last session and we need $16 million to build what we want to build,” said Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore.
Despite the uneasiness over the funding, the fiscal court is scheduled to vote today to award the bid for demolition of the four houses and one commercial building that are now on the spot where the justice center will go.
“The location doesn't change either way,” Mr. Moore said.
The county paid a total of $690,000 for the properties but will be reimbursed by state monies earmarked for the project, Mr. Moore said.
The justice center will be built behind the county commission building and will face Rogers Lane.
If the legislature does not fund the second part of the project the justice center will be built in phases. Mr. Moore said he is optimistic.
“But the governor still has to sign it,” he said.
Construction on the first phase of the building — 38,000 to 40,000 square feet — is expected to start by the end of the year at the earliest, said Boone County Administrator Jim Parsons.
The county hopes to eventually build a 72,000-square-foot facility.
In other business:
›The fiscal court is expected to discuss the updated goals and objectives of the county's comprehensive plan, a document that guides land use. ›The fiscal court will take under consideration proposals to privatize instead of using Sanitation District No. 1 services to treat wastewater in Boone County.
›The commissioners are scheduled to vote on a resolution to enter into a contract with PDR Engineers Inc. The company will help design the expansion of water services across the county.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the county administration building in Burlington.
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