Courthouse scheduled to open in April

The new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau is scheduled to open by April 1, several months later than originally anticipated.

But the General Services Administration, which oversees construction and operation of federal buildings, says the project hasn't been delayed by weather or construction material issues.

Jim Snedegar, project manager for the GSA, estimated in early August that the new, four-story courthouse at Independence and Frederick streets would be completed by December and that tenants would move in shortly after that.

But Wednesday, Snedegar said some interior construction work remains to be finished. Still, he refused to call it a delay.Snedegar said the construction process just has taken longer than originally anticipated.

"What we have found is that a courthouse is a very complex, very quality-conscious project. We want to make sure that things are done correctly," he said.

The $50 million project is being completed within budget, he said. "There have been no cost overruns."

All of the exterior work has been completed. Interior construction is more than 90 percent complete, he said.

Construction work should be completed by Feb. 1, Snedegar said.

The GSA will oversee any final touch ups in February and March. During that time, phone service and computer cables will be installed, he said.

Tenants may start moving into the 150,000-square-foot building before April 1, he said. Others may move in after that date. But the courthouse itself should be open by the start of April, Snedegar said. He plans to meet with the various tenants over the next several weeks to discuss move-in schedules.

Legislative offices

Besides space for the federal courts, the building will house the offices of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill. The legislative offices will be on the first floor. The courthouse also will house offices for the GSA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the federal prosecutor and the public defender, Snedegar said.

The regional offices of Bond and Emerson currently are located in the Federal Building on Broadway. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent also had his district office in the Federal Building. Jeff Glenn, who headed up Talent's local office, is relocating to Jefferson City to work in state government. He has been hired as a legislative liaison for the Missouri Department of Revenue.

McCaskill, who defeated Talent in the November election, is scheduled to be sworn in as Missouri's newest U.S. senator in a ceremony today in the Senate chamber of the nation's capitol. Her election prompted speculation about whether she would establish a district office in Cape Girardeau or locate one elsewhere in Southeast Missouri. But McCaskill spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh said Wednesday that the senator will have an office in Cape Girardeau.

Snedegar said the office will be in the new courthouse; Marsh said all the paperwork is being finalized.

Mayor Jay Knudtson welcomed the Democratic senator's decision to have an office in Cape Girardeau. "This act truly demonstrates to me her commitment to this area," he said.

Longtime Democratic leader Tom Neumeyer of Cape Girardeau said he's glad McCaskill will have a local office in the new federal courthouse. "It just makes sense," he said. While Cape Girardeau isn't centrally located in the region, it's the largest city and a regional hub, said the former city councilman.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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