Board
listens to public comment
on
possible sites for judicial center
By:
LAURA HAGAN
The Project
Development Board held their monthly meeting on Monday to take
public comments on the proposed sites for the judicial center.
Some who attended the meeting spoke in favor of keeping the building
in the downtown area. Others disagreed.
While no final decision has been made as to where the building
will be located – and won’t for more than a month
– there are two sites currently being considered. The area
behind the existing courthouse, next to the jail is one, and the
area between Sword Lumber and the post office is the other.
Some comments highlighted what they thought the benefits would
be in keeping the judicial center close to the courthouse, and
others said it would only hurt the downtown square.
Stuart Bowling, whose business is located across from the courthouse,
said he thinks the judicial center should be kept as close to
downtown as possible. He said he thinks having the courthouse
nearby is a plus to downtown businesses.
Pat Beverly, who is the former owner of Petals on the Square,
also spoke in favor of the judicial center staying downton. She
recently sold her business to Debbie Whobrey, and said during
the process of the sale, she let Whobrey know she had offered
her property for the judicial center.
She commented on how she thought the court generated more people
coming to the town and said she would be proud to see a new building.
“Local government is the heart of this city,” Beverly
said. “If we move the people out, we move the heart out.”
Ralph Toole, owner of Family Billiards, said a courthouse downtown
would help his business. Toole said the restaurant, which has
been in business for more than 30 years, has a lot of traffic
on days court is in session.
Dr. Joy Arnold spoke against having the center downtown.
“I’m probably the only one in favor of not selling
(my business),” she said.
She gave the members of the board a copy of a petition, signed
by 700 people who didn’t want to see the center built on
N. Madison Street. She said 129 of the names were other dentists
from around the state.
Her father, Dr. C.C. Arnold, said he was mad and upset about the
situation.
“I grew up here, I love it here,” he said, “and
I don’t like what you’re trying to do.”
Ed Bourne’s law office shares the building with Dr. Arnold,
and Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion said Bourne has not officially
offered up his half of the building for sale.
Carl Cummins and Delbert Keith urged the board to consider all
possible locations and decide what’s best for everyone.
Janet Johnson said she didn’t know “how a huge building
would complement downtown.”
O’Banion said there are two other properties being assessed
at the moment before they are considered.
Darryl Traylor, president of First Farmers Bank – also located
downtown – said his only concern with the building was whether
or not there would be ample parking. He said if there was not
enough parking, he would be opposed to having the building downtown.
O’Banion also said that any parking places taken away by
the building have to be replaced.
District 3 Magistrate Teresa Kemper Davis said many have told
her they don’t want the building downtown.
“I will never vote to condemn any buildings,” she
said.
O’Banion said the board is considering every option and
asking if the sites could “serve the need.”
The judicial center will house the Circuit Clerk’s Office
as well as any and all court proceedings.
Monday’s meeting went into executive session after all of
the public comment was finished. O’Banion said the board
would be discussing land acquisition, but no decision would be
made at that session.
The Project Development Board meets the first Monday of every
month at 10 a.m. in the Owen County Courthouse. The next meeting
will be held Feb. 4.
|
