Cape Girardeau County officials seeking input for buildings

An advisory board formed to review three options for potential updates to Cape Girardeau County facilities is seeking public input before making its final decision.

Last year, the Cape Girardeau County Commission formed a citizen advisory board to review three options as proposed by St. Louis-based Treanor Architects.

"The county commission embarked on this process in 2013 to formulate a long-term facility plan to provide a safe, and efficient space for conducting criminal and civil court in Cape Girardeau County," said the most recent newsletter issued by the county. The three options call for significant updates or replacement for court and administration needs.

Option A would include a renovation of the existing administration building and the existing Jackson courthouse. A new courthouse would be built near North Missouri and Washington streets. In the basement, the new building would have a 60-space parking garage. It would house offices for the prosecuting attorney and circuit court clerk and four large courtrooms for jury trials, holding areas for inmates, a drug court and offices for judges and court employees.

Option B would move nearly all county operations into a new four-story courthouse, which also would be near North Missouri and Washington. The existing administration building would be torn down and replaced with a two-level, 200-space parking garage.

Option C would place a new courthouse near the area where Washington Street meets U.S. 61. The building would house courthouse operations and county administrative offices. The existing administration building would be torn down and replaced with a new section of U.S. 61, which could improve traffic flow in the area. A two-level parking garage would be built near the existing jail at North Missouri and Washington.

The advisory board will conduct two open houses to solicit public input before their final recommendation to the Cape Girardeau County Commission on Jan. 26.

The first open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Osage Centre at 1625 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The second open house will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Riverside Regional Library at 1997 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson.

Advisory board members, county commissioners and other local officials will attend the meetings to answer inquiries from the public.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1997 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, Mo.