City officials look at possible public-private partnership for operation of the Common Pleas Courthouse, Annex

Cape Girardeau city officials believe a public-private partnership involving the River Heritage Museum and other historic preservation entities might direct the future of the Common Pleas Courthouse.

The City Council and city staff are faced with what to do with the iconic, pre-Civil War structure after Cape Girardeau County circuit court offices are relocated to a new justice center in Jackson. That move is expected to occur in 2020.

The River Heritage Museum board of directors has expressed interest in relocating to the adjacent Courthouse Annex or the courthouse.

The museum is now housed in a former city police/fire station at Independence and Frederick streets.

If the museum relocates to the courthouse/Annex site, the city might sell the old police/fire station, city manager Scott Meyer said.

But Meyer said Wednesday no plan has been drawn up, nor has any funding been worked out. "It is really fluid," he said.

Meyer said he hopes a plan can be mapped out this year.

River Heritage Museum's Jerry Ford said either the Annex or the courthouse could provide a new home for the museum. But he added it would be difficult for the all-volunteer organization to operate both buildings.

Still, Ford said the organization wants to work with the city on reuse of the historic site. "Bottom line, we want to be part of the solution," he said.

Ford said the city and River Heritage already have a "working relationship" at the old, brick station where the museum now is housed.

The city takes care of the building's exterior, while the volunteer group keeps up the interior, he said.

"We want to continue our relationship with the city," Ford said.

He added the River Heritage group wants to expand its exhibits. "We could have a bigger city museum," he said.

Meyer said any future use of the courthouse could involve a number of entities, including Southeast Missouri State University.

The university's Crisp Museum at the River Campus details much of the region's history, he said.

Cape Girardeau also has a number of historic houses and sites open to the public.

Meyer said the courthouse could be used as a "clearinghouse" where visitors and residents could obtain information about all the "historical things" in the city.

He suggested it might be possible for an organization to take over operation of both the courthouse and Annex as well as the surrounding grounds at Ivers Square.

The group could then rent out the grounds for weddings, Meyer said.

Meyer said the city might look at leasing the buildings to the River Heritage Museum and/or others for as little as $1.

The city manager said he is "always concerned" about operating expenses.

The county government already has vacated the Annex, and the city has taken over maintenance of the grounds. But Meyer said the county is still handling snow removal at the site.

City officials insisted they want to make good use of the brick courthouse, which dates back to 1854 and at one time served as city hall.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641