Owen County has finally made the short list for the construction of a new judicial center.
The county is ranked No. 10 on a list of counties next up for new facilities. The list is included in the House’s judicial budget bill approved last week.
The project is estimated to run nearly $11.5 million. While it is expected to be approved during this General Assembly session and included in the list of projects to move forward, money for the project won’t begin flowing until the next biennium budget, which will be approved in 2008.
“The courthouse stands a good chance of remaining in the judicial budget,” said Owen County’s Senator Damon Thayer.
“The construction of the project should get approval this session with money to come in the next session,” said Owen County’s Representative Royce Adams. “That’s because there’s so much preliminary work to be done before construction can begin. But if it follows the same process it has over the past six years, Owen County’s project will get approval this year.”
The last state funding for improvement of the courthouse came in the mid-1990s when $250,000 was approved for the addition of an elevator to the current facility, Adams added.
The project is part of a state-wide initiative to bring county courthouses up to standards.
Initially, all judicial facilities were assessed for space purposes, meeting the needs of residents with handicaps and structural qualities.
Based on that assessment, the projects were weighted and ranked for completion.
Owen County Circuit Clerk Cindy Wright said she and the local judges haven’t discussed the project, especially in regards to where to put the facility, but some conversations with other local officials have indicated an interested in locating the building next to the Owen County Sheriff’s Office in that parking lot.
Owen County Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion announced at last week’s Owen County Chamber of Commerce meeting that the site next to the sheriff’s office is the tentative site for the facility.
The plan would be to build offices and at least one courtroom in the facility. This would alleviate some situations created when a circuit trial is taking place at the same time as district court.
“This will give us two courtrooms,” Wright said.
The court system has utilized the Oddfellows hall in the past when there have been conflicts with the courtroom.
Wright said there would be discussions with the two district judges, Thomas Funk and James Purcell, and with Circuit Judge Stephen Bates concerning their needs and what they would like to see in the facility.
Adams said in other counties committees have also been formed in order to make the best decision for the community.
“We’re just out of space,” Wright said.
“I’m really pleased this is happening,” Adams said. “This is something very important for the future of Owen County.”

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