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Friday, June 02, 2006

Ind. Courts - Orange County eyes courthouse renovations

"Orange County eyes courthouse renovations: Project could cost $2.5 million" is the headline to a story by Roger Moon today in the Bedford Times-Mail. Some quotes:

PAOLI - Installation of an elevator is among changes planned at the historic Orange County Courthouse as part of a $2.5 million renovation plan designed to make the 156-year-old building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A joint meeting between Orange County Commissioners and Orange County Council members resulted in the council approving a motion made by council member Alan Waynick to “support commissioners in the upkeep of the courthouse.” The vote was 6-0, with one council member absent.

Waynick said before the vote was taken, “I don't feel like we have any choice. ... I just feel like we need to restore it.”

The addition of an elevator is one of a number of changes that commissioners would like to see made at the courthouse so it can be preserved. The last major renovation work took place in the early 1990s.

Commissioners on Wednesday voted to award a contract to the Indianapolis-based DLZ firm for architectural and engineering services that are needed before the county can continue in a quest to get renovation funds from four grant sources. Lisa Gehlhausen, executive director of Indiana Region 15, said Wednesday, “We need architectural service to move into the next phase.”

County leaders will commit a minimum of $685,000 to the project. That constitutes the local match monies that would be needed for the four grants the county is seeking. * * *

County leaders also expressed optimism that money coming to Orange County from the new casino can help with the project.

Paoli attorney J.C. Tucker, who helped guide the last courthouse renovation project, said the council's approach would be to issue bonds on the $685,000. “The bonds,” Tucker said, “would be sold based on ... (the casino's) gaming and admission tax, backed by the credit of the county through tax revenue.”

Kermit Lamb, council president, said, “We're going to have to spend money on that facility no matter what.”

Orange Circuit Court Judge Larry Blanton told county leaders, “You are one handicapped person away from a lawsuit closing the whole thing down, and you start all over again, building a new one or making it handicapped accessible.”

Blanton pointed to a lawsuit that was filed in Tennessee, where circumstances were similar to those in Orange County.

“We have been fortunate so far,” the judge said.

Here, from the Indiana Courts website, are photos (one and two) of the Orange County Courthouse.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 2, 2006 11:28 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts