BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's courthouse will get a new lease on life with officials accepting a $2.8 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation for repair and improvement to the structure.
The Finance Committee discussed the offer Thursday and voted to send its recommendation for approval on to the Committee of the Whole, which was to meet Tuesday.
County Judge Bob Clinard and Jay Allen, spokesman for the foundation, briefed the justices of the peace on the offer and answered questions.
Allen said there are "three strings attached to the offer" He said the foundation's offer mandates the county complete repair to the roof by March 1, that the Hight-Jackson Associates architectural firm oversee the work, and the county agree in writing, on or before Nov. 30, to accept the grant. Allen said the offer to do the work on the historic courthouse isn't tied to the decision on any new facility.
"The Walton family and the Walton Family Foundation are committed to the preservation of the quality of life in Bentonville and in Northwest Arkansas," Allen said. "The historic courthouse is very much a part of that."
The project would include repair to the exterior of the courthouse, which was built in 1928, including the steps on the west side of the building; repair or replacement of waterproofing in the basement; remodeling the Prosecuting Attorney's offices on the first floor; and various window repairs. The estimated cost of the work was put at $2,864,669.
Another part of the offer will make the top two floors of the Massey Building available to the county to house some of the offices of the Prosecuting Attorney during the remodelling. The offices would be available rent free from May 1 through Aug. 1, 2016. If the county needed the space beyond that time, the space would be available at market rate.
Clinard told the justices of the peace the expenses for moving into one floor of the Massey Building would come to about $126,000. Moving offices onto another floor would increase those costs by about $50,000, he said. When the offices were moved back to the courthouse, Clinard said, there would be another $50,000 in moving expenses.
Nathan Smith, who will take office as prosecutor in January, said he looked over the space and thought the space on one floor would be sufficient. Smith said after the meeting the Massey Building is the only space in downtown Bentonville that could accommodate his offices in such a project.
"I'm very much in favor of it," Smith said. "I do think we can live with one floor. We're definitely in favor of it. For the courthouse as a whole I think it will be great. It will be great for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to come back to a remodelled space."
Tom Allen of District 4 and chairman of the Finance Committee, said the county will continue to examine the long-term needs for the judicial system, which may include a new courts building. He said the proposed renovation to the courthouse also need to be done.
"No matter what happens to that courthouse, this has to be done," he said. "As we've discussed, we have a shortage of funds. This is a godsend."
AT A GLANCE
Committee Action
Benton County's Finance Committee met Thursday and recommended approval for: Accepting the 2012 audit from the state Division of Legislative Audit. Setting the county's property tax rates for 2014. Transferring money within the jail budget for 2014 to pay for the medical services contract. Spending $69,249 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Grant. Spending $13,000 to repair an air-conditioning unit at the county jail. Spending $531,996 for the Windmill Road improvement project. The county is being reimbursed by Bentonville. Spending $281,200 for the Information Technology Department to replace the county's Data Domain. Spending $30,000 to buy fire equipment for the Pleasure Heights Fire Department.
Source: Staff Report
General News on 10/22/2014