1989 - 09-05-89 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Chairman ognized Mr.' athan ~C`rriss Tax Administrator who croduced Mr. Roger Kelly,w Appraisal Manager for the Tax Department. The Chairman on behalf of the Board welcomed Mr. Kelly to Lee County. The Chairman advised that he invited three gentlemen to the meeting today to address the courthouse issue so-that we might better understand our responsibilities and our relationship to our courts system. District Judge William A. Christian said the present courthouse is outdated and not large enough for today's case load or that of the future. The County District Court holds between 150 and 300 cases per day, causing the whole courthouse to be overcrowded. There is not enough room and security for the transportation of prisoners is not adequate. He feels the proposed 50-year plan is in the best interest of Lee County. Mr. Robert Giles, Director Research and Planning, Administrative Office of the Courts referred to a recommendation set forth in a 1984 publication 100 Courthouses. The need for more space at the Lee County Courthouse was put on record when this was published 12 years ago. His office recommends providing,as much space as possible for a new courthouse and designing it to accommodate future expansion. Mr. Robert Nelson, CPA, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells and Vice President of the local Chamber of Commerce advised that the County is in good financial shape to issue bonds and the bond market is as favorable as it has been in recent years. Lee County is well within the legal debt limits and, without any major downturns in the economy, there should not be any problems. The Chairman thanked Judge Christian, Mr. Giles and Mr. Nelson for taking time from their busy schedule to come to the meeting. The Board then observed a ten minute recess. Following the recess, the Board convened with all members present. The Chairman recognized Mr. Lee West, Accountant in Sanford who represented professional people and merchants with establishments near the present courthouse. He advised an informal group of business people had employed a planner who is working on showing how a new jail and renovated courthouse located on the current site would cost considerably less than the proposal to relocate these facilities off of Colon Road. Commissioner Stafford thanked Mr. West for coming along with Mr. Nelson and the other two gentlemen and giving their observations and opinions. The Chairman advised the next item on the agenda was consideration of a resolution authorizing application to be filed with the Local Government Commission for Financing 3