Sunday, April 23, 2000
Courthouse funding OK'd
$16M structure planned
BY Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — An allocation of $8.3 million in state funding will allow Boone County to finally begin work on its long-awaited new courthouse.
A construction date has not been set but workers have begun clearing the six parcels in Burlington where the $16 million, 37,000-square-foot courthouse will be built, Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore said Saturday.
“We're cramped in our existing buildings and really need this new building,” Mr. Moore said. “It's a project a lot of people have worked toward for a long time and it's great to see it finally happening.”
Senate President Pro Tem Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside Park, worked with Senate President David Williams, R- Burkesville, to secure money for the project during the final days of the General Assembly's session, which ended April 14.
“My job was to get the money for the project, and we were able to do that,” said Mr. Roeding, who represents Boone County in the Senate. “Only five new courthouse projects were funded this year, and Boone County is one of those because the new courthouse is so badly needed.”
The General Assembly earmarked $8 million during its 1998 session. This year's allocation will allow the county to begin work later this year, Mr. Moore said.
The courthouse will be built in Burlington across Ky. 18 from the county's existing administration building and courthouse. It will be behind The Little Place Restaurant and will house courtrooms and offices for circuit, district and family courts.
“We're so crowded now that sometimes we have to hold court in a conference room,” Mr. Moore said.
The new courthouse also will allow the county to improve security by installing medical detectors and by having separate courthouse and courtroom entrances for jurors, defendants, prisoners and the public.
A construction timetable has not been set but Mr. Moore said work should begin shortly after the property is cleared of some buildings and debris.
Mr. Roeding said Boone County received money in the state budget “because the county deserved it.”
“This is a county that has grown by 30,000 people over the last 10 years or so,” he said. “There are a lot of people who work in the courthouse and who use the courthouse, and this project is for them and all of the people of Boone County.”
Mr. Moore also lauded Mr. Roeding and Mr. Williams for inserting $1 million for land acquisition at Big Bone State Park near Union, in the southern end of the county.
“The money for Big Bone will allow us to expand and improve one of the naturally beautiful and historic sites we have in Boone County,” Mr. Moore said.
Nordstrom price tag seems worth it
Easter: A new beginning
Gun dealers respond
Schools call Ohio's funding system unfair
Cincinnati won't join schools' lawsuit
Administrator hails from private sector
Courthouse funding OK'd
Dogs strut their stuff in parade for cause
Elian's burden: the prior traumas
Get to it
'Little person' left big changes for disabled
Long-term view
Monroe designing gateway
'Nixon's Nixon' wraps up run at Toronto festival
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Reaping what girls sew
Students polishing craft for mock trial
The great Easter Egg Hunter
Theater review
TRISTATE A.M. REPORT
Tristate speaks on case
Women help staff hospital
CSO's diversity efforts fall short of target audience
1970 series a model for other orchestras
Lack of minorities a national dilemma
What some other orchestras are doing
WILKINSON: GOP fumbles its handling of 'Team Ohio'
KIESEWETTER: Documentaries have their day
PULFER: Nordstrom deal
McGURK:Film Society broadens its focus
DAUGHERTY: Adults made a mess of everything for little Elian
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
