Stafford Board of Supervisors tables a decision on funding a new court complex

Date published: 9/21/2008

BY JONAS BEALS

Stafford Circuit Court Chief Judge J. Martin Bass led the county Board of Supervisors and a few administrators into the courthouse's jury selection room last week.

"I hope the fire marshal isn't with us," Bass joked as he opened the door.

The tour was scheduled ahead of a vote on funding architectural and engineering plans for a new Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courthouse, and highlighted the space concerns shared by many courthouse employees.

Among the problems discussed were a lack of storage space for deeds and other legal documents, compromised security, and inadequate separation of plaintiffs, defendants and wit- nesses.

Both Bass and Circuit Court Judge Gordon Willis voiced concerns about their ability to efficiently work a growing caseload, which was the state's largest in 2007.

Following the tour, Bass made a presentation to the board members, urging them to authorize the $3.2 million contract and move forward with building the facility at a proposed cost of $33.8 million.

"The need is real, urgent, and is not going away," he said. "This is all about the quality of justice and service to the community."

The board voted to defer the issue until October 2009.

Supervisor Cord Sterling made the motion to defer.

"It's not whether there is or isn't a need," he said. "We have very limited resources. Those resources are even more scarce than usual now. I cannot see spending $34 million at this time for this project."

Board Chairman George Schwartz and Supervisor Paul Milde voted against the motion.

"There is a need here," Schwartz said. "The county has grown and our facilities have not grown. They've festered."

A 2004 comprehensive assessment of space needs indicated the county required an additional 30,000 square feet of courtroom space at the time. The 10-year projection called for an additional 54,323 square feet.

Since 2005, judges have expressed concern about their accommodations.

A September 2007 letter from Bass and Willis to the Board of Supervisors concluded by saying, "The commitment to a new court complex cannot be put off or delayed any further."

Even if the contract had been approved Tuesday, it would have been late 2011 before the new building opened. There is some intermediate relief scheduled for the courthouse, however.

Supervisors previously approved $1.2 million for renovations to the basement of the current courthouse--space formerly occupied by the Sheriff's Office.

Stafford County supervisors voted Tuesday to eliminate a number of capital improvement projects from the 2008-12 Capital Improvement Program. Tignor administrative building: $21.9 million indoor recreation center: $35.7 million animal shelter: $10 million Fire Station 13 at Stafford Airport: $6 million Supervisors also agreed to delay funding the $5.5 million Fire Station 14 in North Stafford for one year. The board directed County Administrator Anthony Romanello to review the remaining projects and prepare recommendations for further action.

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Date published: 9/21/2008

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