BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace Tuesday embraced a $2.8 million grant to repair and renovate parts of the historic county courthouse.
Susan Anglin of District 9 expressed thanks to the Walton family and the Walton Family Foundation for the offer to help repair and renovate the courthouse.
"I wholeheartedly support this," she said. "This is an awesome gift."
The foundation has offered the money to do part of the work identified as needed for the old courthouse during the county's study of its courts facilities.
The project being proposed by the foundation includes repair to the exterior of the courthouse 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 was put at $2,864,669.
Another part of the offer will make the top two floors of the Massey Building available 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.
Jay Allen, representing the foundation, told the committee the grant has three "strings attached" to it. The county will have to do repairs to the roof of the building, which are already planned and budgeted for; to notify the foundation in writing of acceptance by Nov. 30; and to hire Hight-Jackson Associates to oversee the work.
County Judge Bob Clinard told the justices of the peace the expenses for moving into one floor of the Massey Building would come to about $126,000. When the offices are moved back to the courthouse, Clinard said, there will be another $50,000 in moving expenses.
Clinard said the county will be spending some money on moving the Prosecuting Attorney's Office but part of it, the portion spent on information technology equipment for the office space, will buy equipment that can be used elsewhere once the offices are moved back to the courthouse.
"I'll trade $200,000 for $2.8 million any day," Clinard said. "This is well worth it."
Tom Allen, of District 4, said the county can either continue working on the grant proposal through its normal budget process, which won't end until December, or the Quorum Court can express its intent to accept the grant. He said the resolution could be ready for the Oct. 23 Quorum Court meeting.
"I say do it," Jay Allen said of the proposed resolution.
General News on 10/22/2014