$18.6 million judicial center still on hold

For the second time in a year, county commissioners tabled plans to build a new $18.6 million judicial center, opting to wait until the economy improves.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to continue talks with Circuit Judge Daniel Merritt about how best to meet judicial needs. They also directed staff to explore ways to move faster on renovating part of the government center to accommodate an additional courtroom to help out in the short-term.

Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton said he anticipated construction on that new courtroom would begin in early 2010.

But Merritt said that may be too late.

"My only problem is it's not going fast enough," he said. "We need it now."

To that end, staff will look at ways of moving the code enforcement department from the first floor to another site, allowing renovation to begin sooner.

Merritt called the short-term plan a step in the right direction, as long as the county doesn't drop the idea of a new center when the financial and economic picture brightens.

"To do nothing is unacceptable," said Merritt, who stressed space needs will worsen as the population increases.

Commission Chairman Dave Russell assured Merritt that, while the county is "putting (the project) on the back burner, it's still on the burner."

The county had dedicated $18.6 million to the project, with the rest coming from private funding.

That money remains in a special fund set aside for that purpose.

Commissioner Jeff Stabins had pressed his colleagues to move forward now with the construction of a new judicial center, possibly using some of the "billions of dollars flying around Washington" in federal stimulus money.

But Russell said he wouldn't count on the federal government for help.

"Frankly, Mr. Stabins, I have very little faith in that system right now," he said. "The bureaucracy is absolutely hideous."