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Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Ind. Courts - More of the same re proposed Randolph County Courthouse demolition

"Courthouse talk resumes, but commissioners decide nothing" is the headline to a story today in the Muncie Star-Press by Joy Leiker. Some quotes:


WINCHESTER -- During the first public discussion in two months on the fate of the 129-year-old Randolph County Courthouse, elected officials renewed their split positions on the issue Monday and residents asked for a public vote.

At the same time, one commissioner reported that there are two large buildings for sale -- including a former Wal-Mart store that the county had tried to buy last year -- that could serve as temporary courthouse space. * * *

Commissioner Ron Chalfant opened the public discussion and said the intent was to "move forward with the action we've taken."

But Don Longfellow of Union City and others begged commissioners to reconsider. Longfellow suggested the courthouse issue be put on the upcoming ballot for all Randolph County voters to decide. It's uncertain whether that can be done, however. * * *

Commissioner Drew Wright, a Republican from Farmland, is up for re-election this year. He's the lone member of the three-man, all-Republican board on the ballot, and already faces two challengers -- fellow Republican Kathy Beumer, of Modoc, and Democrat Randy Bertram, of Farmland.

Wright is stern in his support of building a new courthouse, so if he doesn't win re-election, the whole issue might be up to his replacement. * * *

Wright said the county had spent $411,000 researching courthouse options, and on Monday he indicated an old, much-talked-about option -- of using a former Wal-Mart store to house courthouse offices -- is back on the table again.

The county had tried to buy the building last year, but was beat to the punch by a Kentucky developer. That developer now has offered to sell the 54,962-square-foot building at 970 E. Washington to the county for $795,000, or about $14.46 a square foot. The county's hired experts said in August that the building needed $590,000 in renovations before it would be fit for courthouse space. (At the same time Wal-Mart said it would lease the building to the county for $125,000 a year.)

Another property, the former Carter Lumber Company, is also for sale, Wright said. That price is $500,000.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 7, 2006 08:13 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts