1991 - 01-07-91 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ooK 13.~~ 539 the time involved. Commissioner Matthews stated that the architect would probably move along with the plans since he anticipates getting paid for the project. Commissioner Reives stated that Commissioners Matthews' and Hall's major concern is utilizing the present courthouse. Commissioner Hall stated that the courthouse is eventually going to be another office building and it would not be maintained at the level that it is now as a courthouse. The superior court could remain superior court, building a large district court and maybe a small magistrate's courtroom. There may be some consideration leaving the Register of Deeds there, taking over the superior court space, and adding a superior courtroom. Commissioner Cox stated that those possibilities have been explored by this architect. Commissioner Hall stated that he would like to see some drawings on those plans. Commissioner wicker stated that the architect met with employees at the courthouse and spent hours studying each department's needs. The architect also went to Raleigh and spent considerable time with people there. He has done much planning in this project. Commissioner Reives stated that it was brought up that with the existing plans there is not enough money to complete the entire project. Renovating the old building is not going to give the County the space they need, and coming up shorter than already anticipated, the results will be less than the County bargained for. Commissioner Cox stated that renovating the old building will impose all the new updated rules and regulations in building codes. The building will virtually have to be gutted and rebuilt. Will it be worth doing this? He stated that it is not worth it to him. County Manager Cowan stated that one of the original schemes included connecting to the old building and using the old building, but not as a courtroom. It would be used for office space. The reason he planned it that way, and the Sheriff totally agreed with this, is that the auxiliary functions, the support facilities that go with the courtroom, from a safety standpoint and so forth, would not work having courtrooms in two separate buildings. The architect took all the square footage and made office space for the Probation Office, Register of Deeds, and other related departments connecting by a walkway between the two buildings. The new building would house the courtrooms and the jail behind it. The Sheriff would not have to bring the prisoner outside the jail and into the public spaces to enter the courtroom. The Sheriff, Commissioner Cox and some others that viewed the plan totally rejected it because of the flow of the plan. Commissioner Reives stated that depending on the type use of the old courthouse will have a lot to do with the County's liability and exposure. There are a lot of Federal and State laws that will force the County to spend some money that technically the County does not have. Going that route will still not provide more space. The handicapped situation is a 14