County commission finalizes advisory committee members

Cape Girardeau County commissioners on Thursday finalized the roster for a new citizens advisory committee that will make recommendations on future consolidation of facilities, including those that house courts.

Steve Wilson, Jay Knudtson, Matt Hopkins, Jim Lichtenegger, James Roche, Mary Ludwig, Mike Seabaugh, Don Kuntze and Dwain Hahs will be invited by the commission to act as a voting board on the committee, while another 11 people who expressed interest in serving on the committee will be asked to participate as nonvoting members that give input on how the county should proceed with a consolidation.

Associate Commissioner Charlie Herbst said he thinks the board's roster represents a good balance of people who live in the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson along with non-incorporated areas of the county.

The commission advertised the formation committee starting in November after a hired architect presented a series of options for consolidation of county facilities. Commissioners have said the purpose of the committee will be to evaluate the options and present a recommendation to the commission that they think best suits the future needs of the county.

The three options the committee will consider for consolidation include plans for a new three or four-story courthouse on the Jackson square and renovations of various existing buildings for different uses. The county currently runs court and several other county offices in both the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Consolidation of facilities would likely move most, if not all, county offices to Jackson. The county has not yet established how to fund consolidation.

The commission set the committee's first meeting for 6 p.m. Feb. 3 in the commission chambers at the county administration building in Jackson.

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy has said he expects the committee to work on a recommendation for a period of several months up to a year.

eragan@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

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100 Court St.,

44 N. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO