Buying a courthouse

With the construction of the new Rush H. Limbaugh Federal Building nearing completion, the disposition of the old federal building at the corner of Broadway and Fountain Street in downtown Cape Girardeau has become something of an urgent issue.

Until recently, the General Services Administration gave away surplus buildings for specific uses. Under those guidelines, the Cape Girardeau County Commission asked a three-man panel to assess whether the county could comply with those guidelines and be fiscally responsible. The county is particularly interested in moving circuit courtrooms and other county offices from the city-owned Common Pleas Courthouse and its annex.

Now the GSA is considering auctioning off the old federal building.

The next decision for the county is how much to offer for the old courthouse. It appears the county is on the right track to meet its needs and assure that the old courthouse continues to be put to good use.