'Best way forward': Judicial center moves forward at $30 million, no cost to taxpayers

The final Maury County budget committee of the current term met to lock in a decision on funding the long in-question judicial center project that would bring more courtrooms to Maury County, including Daily Herald demolition.

The budget committee voted unanimously 7-0 to fund the project using American Rescue Act funds to keep the cost off the backs of taxpayers.

The vote stamped a $30 million price tag on the center, marking one final hurrah for the outgoing budget committee.

The Nashville-based building and design company assigned to the project, Hewlett Spencer describes their business as a cost effective company, out to provide “high quality government buildings, schools, jails and administrative buildings at significant savings to taxpayers.”

Owner advocate, Steve Hewlett answered questions at the meeting about funding the judicial center facility.

Hewlett said he was agreeable to meeting the commission’s flat $30 million proposal instead of the county’s originally resolved price of $32,245,293.

“I think that’s what needs to happen,” said budget chairman Scott Sumners.

Hewlett mentioned a demolition attached to the cost of the project startup along with underground utilities and getting the site “pad ready” to build, with those plans recommended in April at a building committee meeting and finalized in July at a regular commission meeting.

Budget makers praised the $30 million facility that will be configured at the site of the former Daily Herald building, giving the county more space to conduct judicial operations.

Favorable comments praised the commission’s ability to keep taxpayers from incurring any strain of the cost by using ARPA funds.

Some of the funding would also come from litigation and court fees and county adequate facilities taxes.

The budget committee met following a special called commission meeting to nail down new budget appropriations for incoming commissioners to use and for the county’s newly-approved tax increase.

Purchase of Daily Herald

Last year, the Herald reported the commission’s resolution to purchase the Daily Herald property located at 1115 South Main St. and an adjacent lot at 1104 Woodland St. for a total cost of $1.85 million from the property’s former owner Larry Hubbell.

Controversy regarding the purchase prices also date back to last year with taxpayers and commissioners alike, questioning the high cost of the sale to the county when Culleoka buyer, Larry Hubbell paid $725,000 for the initial purchase last spring.

The county moved on the purchase with the intent of transforming the 1968 newspaper building into a second courthouse before any studies were conducted on the feasibility of such a project. But Monday, with a coming demolition planned, the vote bumped the facility up on the priority list.

Newly-elected District 8 Commissioner Gabe Howard shared a comment on his preferred approach to the project.

“There were multiple problems with the [proposed] judicial center from the beginning,” Howard said. “This body approved the purchase of The Daily Herald building to act as the judicial center and to not tear it down and build a new building on it.”

Howard said the commission approved the purchase of nearly $2 million, adding that with the proposed upgrades of $8 million, the original cost came to $10 million, making the project cost to repair the building, more than it was worth.

Ultimately, the commission decided the building was not adequate for transforming into a justice center.

Feasibility not explored

Normally, due diligence and feasibility would be done on the front side of a real estate deal, Howard said, implying that was not the case with the initial purchase of the building.

“You learned that this building would not work as a judicial center,” Howard said. “And here we are.”

Howard relayed conversations with several attorneys, judges and judicial staffers to the committee.

Will location off square cut into possible revenue?

“They are grateful for the idea of a new judicial center,” Howard said. “But it is apparent they have concerns with moving a judicial center away from the square.”

Howard said an estimated 3,500 to 5,000 people visit the courthouse per month and that moving the center away from the square would have an impact on downtown business and restaurants.

“I’m also extremely concerned that the cost of the judicial center is ridiculously high,” Howard said.

With a $2,177,430 cost just to start the county project, Hewlett said this would provide the site to be “pad ready” for building to begin.

This amount would include everything from demolitions and environmental protections to sitework that included installing underground utilities.

Hewlett was agreeable to getting back to the flat $30 million cost.

Outgoing budget makers find consensus

Commissioner Gwynne Evans said he didn’t mind taking the cost down by $2 million, as long as it didn’t affect the footprint needed to accommodate Maury County growth.

Outgoing commissioner Sue Stephenson said the facility had long been needed because of the lack of ADA compliance with the current courthouse, resulting in injuries from mobility restrictions.

“The condition of the building makes it a real priority,” Stephenson said. “People have gotten injured and [the new building] has to be ADA compliant.”

Commissioner Eric Previti jokingly remarked that he wanted everyone to mark the time and date in regards to his agreement with Stephenson, as the two seldom agree. The committee responded with laughter.

Commissioner Craig Harris praised the committee's action to come to agreement on the matter.

“We will be able to satisfy this once and for all without hitting the property tax,” Harris said. “It’s been one of the best accomplishments we’ve had. I say move forward with this. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Outgoing Commission Chairman Don Morrow, who has pushed for the second location of a judicial center, liked the idea of having a judicial facility over two and a half times the original size of the Herald building.

“It’s probably something we should have done 30 years ago,” Morrow said.

Sumners shared his original wishes for being able to make the current building workable, but ultimately said “it wasn’t going to be feasible to have two buildings running court.”

“It just made more sense to put it all in one place,” Sumners said. “The Grand Jury will still be held at the existing site. We’ve heard for eight years how much we need a new courthouse, and the state will probably make us eventually add another judge.

“This is the best way forward.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Judicial Center moves forward at $30 million, no cost to taxpayers