WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
St. Joseph County commissioners this week got a first-hand look at the many needs of St. Joseph County’s courts building.
During a 30-minute tour Tuesday led by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, commissioners were provided a sobering reality of how much work the 50-year-old building needs. The blemishes they saw include water-stained ceiling tiles, faded carpet more than 20 years old, cramped jury rooms, worn and stained carpet, outdated furniture and an assortment of other blemishes.
Commissioners acknowledged the sorry state of the building and are poised to begin a significant task put off by previous administrations.
First, however, a fair amount of work and plenty of decisions await the commission.
Commissioners may have solved the problem with the recent purchase of the former Three Rivers Public Library.
The county eventually plans to relocate Friend of the Court and Probate/Family Court offices to the West Michigan Avenue location, though that won’t happen until remodeling of the facility is completed – a task still in its infancy.
Nonetheless, that move would lead to about 6,000-square-feet of courts building basement area for much-needed storage. At the same time, it would free up second-level floor space for remodeling and potential expansion of circuit and district courtrooms, their offices, a jury room and other necessities.
County officials have indicated they intend to allocate $4 million of the county’s $11.8 million in ARPA funds toward the courts building project. Realistically, they acknowledge, the county will probably have to issue bonds to help cover the balance of renovation costs.
