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.
Once renovations are completed, there will be seven courtrooms for the six judges working in the Circuit, General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts. Willis and Bass have been clear that the renovated basement is not a long-term solution.
It's a delicate situation for the supervisors, who are struggling to balance capital projects with falling revenue. Also Tuesday, the board voted to eliminate a number of projects from the capital improvement program.
Complicating the issue is the possibility that a judge will order the facility to be built whether the board wants to do it or not.
"We'll have to build this courthouse soon, either with or without a judge's order," said Milde, who believes costs will only increase as the project is delayed.
Milde said that after the board's decision to defer, he received an e-mail from County Administrator Anthony Romanello, summarizing a voicemail message Bass had left. Milde said that Bass felt the judges' agreement with the board had been violated. The judge also asked that the renovations to the former Sheriff's Office be suspended, Milde said.
"It's a dangerous game we're playing with the judges and the safety of the people using the court system," Milde said.
Even so, supervisors struggling to make ends meet are having difficulty justifying the cost of any new construction.
"Now is not the time to fund big-ticket items, although it is needed." Supervisor Bob Woodson said.
"Eventually, we'll be able to build the courthouse they want to have. What we can afford right now is not good," Sterling said. "I hope that the chief judge will exercise patience."
Circuit Court Clerk Barbara Decatur indicated that it's business as usual in her office.
"My staff and I will continue to do the best we can with what we have," she said.
Judges told The Free Lance-Star that it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue at this time.
To reach Jonas Beals:
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
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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. |