After the quorum court meeting Monday night, a group of Justices of the Peace met as a committee to study the possibility of a new judicial building to replace the courtroom in Berrvyille. Justices of the Peace John Howerton, Chuck Olson, Don McNeely, Craig Hicks, and Larry Swofford make up the Eastern District Judicial Building Steering Committee. The group will primarily focus on a courtroom for circuit court, although they may look toward including space for the prosecuting attorney or other county offices.
Howerton began the meeting by explaining that the group is starting from scratch, and will have to decide when and where to meet. Howerton had suggested formation of the committee, but he immediately made clear he did not want to serve as chair. Hicks volunteered for the position, and all agreed.
The group determined that their first step would involve meeting with Circuit Judge Scott Jackson. They also intend to meet with District Court Judge Dale Ramsey, although district court might remain in its present location.
The committee did not go into extensive detail, but preliminary discussion suggested a location near the Detention Center. The county already owns the property and taking someone from jail to court would be much simpler.
All agreed that the goal should be to find a way to fund the building without a new tax, which led to a brief consideration of methods for increasing county revenue.
As an example, the county leases the hospital grounds and buildings to St. John’s Hospital for a nominal sum. When someone suggested raising the cost of the lease to help generate funds for this project, Hicks immediately quashed the idea. “We need the hospital a lot more than the hospital needs us,” he said.
JP Duane Coatney is not a committee member, but he attended the meeting. He said his constituents on the west side of the Kings River would be opposed to building a single new courthouse for the county, but they had little concern over a new courtroom for the Eastern District.
The study may take as much as a year. The committee has no executive authority and will report back to the full quorum court.