http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-920850.mp3
Galesburg, IL – The Knox County Board has decided the fate of the county courthouse. It will stick around, but not without significant renovation and expansion.
Voters were originally supposed to decide what to do with the building by referendum in November. But Knox County board chairman Greg Bacon says a one percent sales tax hike for schools will be on the ballot instead.
Bacon says an architectural firm just completed a cost analysis/feasibility study of three different options. One called for tearing down the building and putting up a new courthouse, which would have cost between $29 million and $30 million. Another option would have renovated the existing courthouse, and built a new office building offsite. That would have cost around $27 million.
The third option, which the board went with, calls for extensive courthouse renovations plus construction of a 40,000 square foot addition. This option should cost about $25 million.
Bacon says the county needs to spend that money now before costs get out of hand.
"In ten years it's going to be $50 million, and you know then our grandkids are going to have to do it," says Bacon. "So I mean, it's sat long enough with not a lot of upkeep and maintenance. It's time to bite the bullet and pull it up."
Bacon says crews will do what they can to ensure the new addition will complement the original design of the courthouse. The exterior walls will likely be built with stucco, but he says the price of limestone continues to drop -- which would be the better choice.
Bacon isn't sure when work will begin or how long it will take... but he hopes to begin renovations at least within the next year.