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 The current federal courthouse building is situated at 339 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch) [Click to enlarge] |
After a 45-minute closed session the commission announced it voted 3-0 on the matter. The commission will now send its application and a down payment of 10 percent of the building's cost to the General Services Administration via overnight mail. The GSA's deadline is Friday.
Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones would not disclose the price of the sale.
"The situation now is that the building is available at a very reasonable price," Jones said after the meeting. "We've figured out how to do that in the confines of our budget.
"Right now there are two options -- buy the building or stay in the Common Pleas Courthouse," Jones said. "There are those who want to promote the idea of building a new courthouse. Without the vote of the people and a bond issue, it's impossible to do that."
Before the closed session, District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell presented a letter from circuit judges William Syler and Benjamin Lewis expressing reservations about moving to the old federal building. Both judges work in the Common Pleas Courthouse.
"Does it impact our decision-making process or do we delay before talking to the judges?" Purcell asked. "In our previous meeting it's been discussed the main reason [for the move] is accommodating the judges."
Jones said the letter would not postpone vote.
In the letter, Syler and Benjamin said the acquisition of the old federal courthouse would be a great improvement over the "ancient" Common Pleas Courthouse, which is 155 years old. The judges said their concerns with that courthouse include handicap inaccessibility, a lack of security and high utility costs.
However, the two judges said the Jackson courthouse, which is 101 years old, has its own problems. Trials are often delayed, the judges said, because jurors, witnesses and attorneys go to the wrong courthouse. They added that prisoners walk from the jail to the courthouse for trial, exposing the inmates to inclement weather and posing a danger to the public both outside and inside the close quarters of the courtroom.
Therefore, the letter said, the best solution would be to build a new courthouse in Jackson that has at least five courtrooms, the circuit clerk's office and an attachment to the current county jail.
"Acquisition of the Federal Building will be a great improvement over the antique facility we now occupy," the letter said. "It will, however, doom any chance of acquiring an adequate facility in Jackson for the next fifty years."
District 1 Commissioner Paul Koeper said the letter was taken into consideration.
"We as a county commission are required to provide an adequate, safe and secure space," Koeper said. "We hope to move forward and be in the courthouse within a year."
Purcell said that while he supports the purchase of the courthouse, his only reservation was the lack of public input about the building.
"It was the right thing to do, but I question how we came to the decision to do it," Purcell said.
Jones feels confident the GSA will approve the application.
"They sent the application to us, and we've responded to every one of their requests," Jones said.
Other business
In other action, the commission:
* Denied an appeal to reassess the assessed valuations on three parcels of property. Those three properties are 607 S. Kingshighway, 611 S. Kingshighway and a nearby vacant lot.
* Voted to change the classification of a vacant piece of land in the Hillcrest Manor subdivision off Route K from agriculture to residential. The property is owned by Lisa Sparkman.
* Awarded a contract to Jokerst Inc. of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., for grading improvements on County Roads 256 and 259. Jokerst was the low bidder at $65,511.
* Approved a new lease for an antenna. The two-year lease with Zimmer Radio Inc. of Cape Girardeau is $2,672.70 annually.
* Accepted bids for grading improvements on County Road 387. The lowest bid is Elmer Buchheit Construction of Friedheim, Mo., with $99,318.80. The highest bid is $266,600 by Gregory Construction of Jackson.
388-3628
Pertinent address:
1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO
339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO
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It is so blantently obvious that this commission does not give a rat ars about how the citizens feel in any matter. I say again, it's time for some new faces. Again, it seems Purcells idea were shot down w/o any regard to their content. Shame, Shame, Shame.
Make a fancy humane socity uot of it, it seems that we care more for the stray animals than we do about the human race, bring in some more dogs,cats,monkeys,coons o'possoms etc. etc.
I am afraid the county is buying a "white elephant". The building is over 40 years old and will be a maintenance nightmare. This should have been about making sound business decisions and not pushing personal agendas. If the City of Cape is so concerned about the building then why didn't they pursue it. Overall this stacks up to be a long term mistake.
YMCA !!!! No new office space. Make due with what you have County officials. We all have to.
Perfect location and building for a YMCA. Why hasn't the shakers and makers of Cape thought about that? Bet it has to do with the quality of people who might frequent it! Frankly anyone homeless, mentally challenged or whatever would be better than the three ring circus of a County Commission we have. If we had a YMCA it would probably contain a small gym with a boxing ring. Than we could let Jones and Purcell have at each other! Maybe Jones could put Purcell in that "strangle" hold he mentioned yesterday.
Have any of you ever been in the 155 year old Common Pleas Courthouse? I would think that the old federal building which is over 40 years is in a lot better shape than the Common Pleas Courthouse. Have any of you ever been inside the courthouse when repairs are being done? The county has to do many repairs to the courthouse because it is so old. Next question, have any of you ever been inside the courthouse to see how the conditions are now? Every square inch of the building is being used. There is no security. How would you feel if people off the street who are mad would come in and be standing in your office? Companies with far less action have more security that the courthouse does. As far as a YMCA why in the world would you want that. All around I see the purchase of the federal building a plus for Cape.
Practicalthinker ask me, " As far as a YMCA why in the world would you want that. All around I see the purchase of the federal building a plus for Cape"?.
Are you kidding!? A YMCA WOULD BE A GREAT addittion to Cape County and City. Do you have something against the Young Mens Christian association? I certainly hope not. I believe that a YMCA would be an even bigger plus for Cape than more County offices. Now, as far as I am concerned if we do buy the old fed bldg than we need to move the County Seat to Cape. There will be no need for it to be in Jackson.
I sure hope the YMCA got my letter and are working on beating Cape Counties bid on the building. Heck, I bet they might even get the thing for nothin'...Rice thought he could!
Why not have the County purchase the old duschel furniture building on william!! Yeah there ya go.
I have been in all the mentioned buildings and yes, on the surface relocating some offices to the Old Federal Courthouse makes sense. However the decision is merely putting a bandaid on a emerging problem and instead of rushing to buy an older building, the commissioners need to:
1) Conduct a needs assessment and determine their short and long term requirements
2) Develop a long range facilities plan that includes preventative maintenance and new facilities
3) Conduct a customer service review that includes staffing for each office
My biggest gripe is the commissioners are being short sighted and not looking at the big picture.
First of all I do not have anything against a YMCA. I think it would be a great addition to Cape. I just do not believe that it needs to be in the Federal Building. Why not have the YMCA at the old Dushell building? Why not use a building that already has courtrooms and offices in it instead of spending more money to renovated Dushell's? I agree with colshowell. This is just putting a band aid over this for now. The courts are just growing and will always increase with the way the economy is. There is no denying it.
i would suggest that the price would have to be right and my guess it is. Greywolf I do not know if the YMCA could raise the funds needed to do the necessary renovations to the old federal building.
So what will happen to the old courthouse if this goes through? I have not seen anything to address that issue. I hope that does not end up as a homeless shelter. I remember when the old St. Francis Hospital was still standing and homelss people would stay there.