As conversations continue about the future of the aging Knox County courthouse, some county board members are calling to pump the brakes on redevelopment of a former bank building the county acquired with the goal of moving non-judicial offices there.
But because the county is already under contract with Valley Construction for work on 50 E. Main St. in downtown Galesburg, the board on Wednesday approved $54,320 in design work with Klinger & Associates as well as $16,500 for a drainage study.
Board Member Pam Davidson, D-District 2, voted no to both expenses.
“Until we start with our courthouse meetings, I think we should not be wasting money which we could be using later,” said Davidson, one of several board members serving on a task force formed this year to determine whether to renovate or replace the county’s courthouse — or move operations to other buildings.
Board Member Bob Bondi, R-District 3 and chair of the board’s infrastructure committee, said the work is within the guidelines of the existing contract with Valley Construction.
“They have every right to ask for the study to be done by Klinger & Associates,” Bondi said of the drainage study.
Bondi said any decision to pump the brakes would require a negotiation with Valley Construction to not move forward.
The county purchased the former Wells Fargo building for $850,000 in 2024, according to assessment records.
At the time, the goal was to free up space at the courthouse by moving offices of the clerk, treasurer, and assessor to 50 E. Main St.
Board Chair Jared Hawkinson, R-District 4, now says replacing the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems at the courthouse would cost $15 million.
The county is currently undergoing an emergency replacement of a collapsed sewer line that is estimated to cost over $1 million.
Hawkinson said he would like to pump the brakes on the 50 E. Main St. project as well while the county figures out the next steps.
He said the bills the county is paying now are for time and materials already expended.
“How we move forward with the building is a different story versus paying a bill that we've received for services rendered,” Hawkinson said.
The courthouse task force is expected to present a recommendation by the end of the year. Its first meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 1 in the Annex
Knox County Board Chair Jared Hawkinson has set the date and time for the Courthouse Task Force to meet. This meeting will be June 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM in the Annex conference room.
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