Courthouse issue generating ideas for Cape Girardeau County commissioners

While Cape Girardeau County commissioners are keeping tight-lipped on courthouse plans, one commissioner says the topic is generating some interesting ideas from other public officials.

"All I can say is the mere idea of consolidating or whether we need one or two courthouses has caused a lot of dialogue to occur," Commissioner Jay Purcell said. "It's too early to comment, but I am pleasantly surprised by some of the ideas that have come forward."

Purcell expects the ideas to be made public within the next 30 to 60 days.

Commissioners are pursuing the possible purchase of the old federal building on Broadway, while they address the limitations of the Common Pleas Courthouse and its annex in Cape Girardeau and the century-old county courthouse in Jackson. The federal property could replace the antebellum Common Pleas building.

Driving the deliberations is a state law specifically dictating that the circuit court in Cape Girardeau County "shall" hold court in the courthouses at Jackson and at Cape Girardeau.

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said he is waiting on an amended county resolution asking the legislature to change the language from "shall" to "may."

Crowell said the law, particular to Cape Girardeau County, takes away a decision that should be in local hands. He compared it to St. Louis' Metropolitan Police Bill, a Civil War-era law that gave control of the then-Confedederate-sympathizing city to the governor. It has remained on the books for nearly 150 years. Legislators are looking to change that law, too.

"If the county commission chooses to maintain courthouses in Jackson and Cape Girardeau, then that's up to them," Crowell said. "But I don't think Jefferson City needs to dictate that decision to local governments."

Purcell is confident the legislature will change the law's language, perhaps clearing the way for the construction of a centralized courthouse in Jackson, Purcell's preference. But coming up with the money is another question, commissioners admit.

While the county negotiates a possible deal with the General Services Administration to acquire the federal building, Purcell isn't sold on the property's benefits. He said it would be too costly to maintain and that he's not comfortable with the price on the negotiating table.

Purcell said he believes it is in the best interest of taxpayers to make the government's asking price public, something other commissioners have resisted. But on Thursday, Purcell declined to comment on the cost.

"I'm at odds with the commission on this one, but I'm not going to ignore the will of my fellow commissioners. It's not something I want to fight with them about," he said. "It will be my intent to ask that we have some type of hearing on the cost of the facility, the cost of retrofitting the courthouse and the facilities the county needs."

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy also declined to comment on negotiations and cost analyses for the properties.

"I don't have a whole lot to say on that," Tracy said. "We are in negotiations trying to formulate a plan with the city and the county."

Commissioner Paul Koeper said he's not thrilled with the cost associated with renovating the 40,000-square-foot federal property, a building he said is much too big for the county's needs. Koeper said he couldn't say whether the GSA's asking price is fair.

"That's a hard one to call," he said. "You look at the size of that building, it's a monster. I'm concerned."

If the county says no, the mostly idle property would go back on the market, opening the door to others, conceivably including the Rev. Larry Rice and his New Life Evangelistic Center. The controversial homeless advocate late last month announced he was ending his legal battle over the acquisition of the property, which New Life planned to turn into a homeless service center and shelter.

Purcell said he's not comfortable with how much taxpayers would have to pay for the federal building, not when "those dollars could be better spent on a different facility." But he said he's keeping his options open at this point.

"There's a lot of dialogue and discussions that have to occur," the commissioner said.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3727

Pertinent Address:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO