County officials mark start of courthouse project

St. Joseph County officials took part Tuesday in a unique event to mark the start of a construction project related to its satellite courthouse in Three Rivers.

In lieu of a traditional ground-breaking ceremony, sledgehammers and a sheet of drywall were used to conduct a “demolition event.” County officials and project team members donned hard hats and took a whack at the vertical-hanging piece of drywall.

County administrator Teresa Doehring told a crowd of about two dozen people that the satellite courthouse will house the county’s Family Court, which is comprised of Friend of the Court, and juvenile and probate court. Their relocation will free up much-needed space at the Centreville courts building.

St. Joseph County purchased the West Michigan Avenue building and property last summer after the library relocated to a site downtown in August 2020.

Preliminary forecasts call for the $6.5 million renovation to be done by March and move-in to take place in April.

Project manager Jennifer Sawyer said demolition and asbestos abatement started about a month ago.