BURLINGTON — The desire to move the Boone County Jail and county court clerk offices could not have been better illustrated than by what happened Wednesday in the circuit court clerk's office.

        Around 1 p.m., a backup in the jail's sewer lines led to water pouring through ceiling tiles. Court clerks, county employees and bystanders scrambled to cover computers, printers and copy machines with plastic bags.

        “This happens every six or eight months. Most of the time, it happens at 2 or 3 in the morning,” said Circuit Court Clerk Pat Gutzeit.

        Boone County's new justice center will be across the street from the county courthouse. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday.

        Boone County's jail, above the clerk's office, is also about to be replaced. Boone County Fiscal Court this week approved buying 60 acres near the county fair grounds for the jail.

        The court paid $1.7 million for the land, between Idlewild and Bullittsville roads. That land is less than a mile north of the current courthouse and jail.

        Boone County Administrator James Parsons said the county doesn't know how much the new jail eventually will cost.

        Jailer John Schickel said the county is opting to build a 150-bed facility, instead of 350 beds. The new jail can be expanded later, he said, but he wants to avoid what many Kentucky counties are experiencing: empty cells in brand-new jails.

        The current 112-bed jail averages around 140 inmates a day, though Mr. Schickel said he has housed as many as 170.

        Construction of the $11.9 million, 80,000-square-foot justice center is starting about a month behind schedule. Completion is expected by August 2002.

        Judge-executive Gary Moore said the state is paying for the building because it will house state offices now in the county courthouse.

        It will be on land bounded by Torrid Drive, East Bend Road, Union Square and Rogers Lane. The northern side of the building will be four stories tall, and the southern side will be two.

        The building will house:

        • Traffic court, perhaps the county's busiest court, on the first floor.

        • Two district courtrooms, where traffic cases also are heard, on the second floor.

        • Family Court, which handles juvenile matters, in two third-floor courtrooms. There also will be a law library and grand jury room.

        • Two circuit courtrooms on the fourth floor, along with judges offices, a cable TV setup to show court proceedings throughout the building, and a holding area for prisoners.

        Carol Long, secretary for Boone Circuit Judge Jay Bamberger, said Wednesday she'll miss the current justice center, but the new center can't be built quickly enough. She pointed to the large brown spot on the ceiling of the waiting area next to her office, evidence of past leaks.

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