County applying long-range planning to courthouse dilemmas
Though the fate of the Faulkner County Courthouse will not be officially decided for a couple of years. County officials say they are approaching the problem with long-term planning in mind.
"We're very, very, very early in the process and when we get all the figures and options together, the Quorum Court and the elected officials not just me all of us, and the public. We'll all have our input and we'll have discussion and re-discussion and when all that gets mixed together kind of like cake batter we'll see what we're going to bake."
"I think there's some (who've) jumped the gun," Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin said. "This is way early in the process. Nobody said we are going to tear the courthouse down, that may not be an option but it's one that's been thrown out there by some of the JPs during their discussion," Scroggin said.
Since the county received county courthouse restoration grants in the past, Faulkner County officials are bound by conservation easements from Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The AHPP offers some matching grants to assist in the cost of courthouse repairs. However, estimates for repairs to the Faulkner County Courthouse are expected to exceed $6 million when the Sowell and Russell Architects meet with the county again in early July.
One thing for certain is that the Great Depression era building will not serve the needs of the ever expanding population in Faulkner County.
"Personally, and I know the Quorum Court feels the same way, this needs to be a solution to solve the needs (of the county) for the next 50-80 years," Scroggin said. "Growth is good and helps the community grow and it's good for business and industry. At the same time you have to provide for services."
Scroggin said whether they decide to renovate the courthouse or to build a new one, there will be at least two more years of discussion.
In the meantime, county officials will have to relocate all courthouse employees during asbestos abatement and plumbing and electrical repairs.
Justice of the Peace Johnnie Well has found two buildings for courthouse offices that have outgrown the aging structure. Last week, the county agreed to purchase Bill Fagan's Bail Bonds offices, which Walls scouted, for the maintenance and the Veteran's Services office. The Victim's Services office has already been moved to another building on Locust Street.
Wells said he is talking to the owners of another building adjacent to the courthouse that would house the courts when the time for renovation to the courthouse begins.
"Right now we're looking at getting new buildings to house existing personnel to get them out of the courthouse. But not only that, but part of this purchase is also for future growth for the county."
Although no one can predict what the county will look like in 10-20 years down the line, Wells said it's not too far to think about.
"What we want to do is satisfy our current needs of separating the courthouse from the court system," Wells said. "Once we do that. Then we can look at cost feasibility of what it's going to cost to build a new courthouse with our court system in it to see what personnel we've got, see how we're going to ship them back. Then we'll see what we need."
To make way for a growing court system, Wells thinks that the county needs separate buildings one for criminal/civil court and one for governmental offices.
"I think if we do it that way with separating the court system we'll come out cheaper in the long run because the existing courthouse or the new courthouse will not have to be as large as it would be if we had to house everything under one building and it would definitely alleviate the overcrowding on the parking situation."
Wells said the property that he's currently scouting would be ideal both in location and function.
"Anytime that you do anything for the future, you have to do it in the present, so we have an opportunity now to build something and I'm not talking about just a courthouse but a county complex that has a court system, the circuit clerk, county clerk, county judge (that) will all be in one central area with room for expansion, room for growth and with a central parking area that's something that we've never had before. And if we're going to do it, we have to do it now. You've only got the opportunity to buy this land once. If we pass it up, then guess what somebody else will end up with it. Then we're land locked."
Wells said that he doesn't anticipate opposition from other members of the court.
"I think most of the Quorum Court are forward looking members. In fact, that's the one thing I do want to say about this court: They have been great to work with. They're looking at everything now, not just the problems we face today, but we're trying to be proactive and react to the problems we know are coming in the future. And they have been wonderful in helping everyone together make decisions for the future."
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