COUNTY CONSIDERS USE OF FEDERAL BUILDING

Cape Girardeau County officials are considering the possibility of housing some county offices and circuit court operations in the Federal Building.

The County Commission has expressed interest in leasing or buying the building at 339 Broadway after the federal courts move into a new courthouse.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Tuesday the commission is interested in moving all the circuit court operations and other county offices in the Common Pleas Courthouse and Annex to the Federal Building.

Jones said the old courthouse and annex in Cape Girardeau are owned by the city. The county uses them and maintains the two buildings under a long-term lease. If the county were to vacate the buildings, it would be the city's responsibility to decide what to do with them.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said the city doesn't have any interest in acquiring the Federal Building. If the county moves out, the Common Pleas Courthouse could be turned into a history museum, he said.

The federal government plans to build a new courthouse west of the Cape Girdeau City Hall, near Frederick and Independence. Construction of the courthouse could begin in late 2001 or early 2002 and be completed by 2004.

After the new courthouse opens, the federal government might decide to sell the Federal Building even if some federal offices remain in the building, a General Services Administration official said. The federal offices that remain in the building could lease space from the new owner.

The GSA maintains the Federal Building. There had been talk of turning the structure into a federal office building.

But Jim Ogden, director of portfolio management for the GSA's regional office in Kansas City, Mo., said there is a "fair possibility" that the federal government will sell the 32-year-old building.

Ogden said there aren't enough non-court federal agencies to fill the Federal Building. "We just don't have enough folks to put in there," he said.

When the GSA sells a building, it typically does so at a discount. "We are not trying to get a fair market value for it," said Ogden.

"That is a nice building," said Ogden. "We have no interest in tearing it down."

Jones said the Federal Building could provide needed space for county government in a structure that is handicapped accessible. The Common Pleas Courthouse's second-floor courtroom isn't accessible to the handicapped. Jones said it isn't economical to build an elevator in the old courthouse.

Jones said county officials earlier this year wrote a letter to the GSA expressing interest in acquiring the Federal Building should it become available. Jones said he could see the possibility of some partnership with the state or federal government concerning use of the building.

Ogden said the GSA won't be making any quick decisions on the future of the Federal Building.

But Jones said county officials wanted to get their foot in the door. "We have put our name in the pot," he said.