In order to make sure a new judicial center remains in the works for downtown Milton, the city’s council voted in favor of having city representation in working with the Santa Rosa County officials, during this week’s executive committee meeting.
During the meeting on Monday night, the council voted in favor of the city’s courthouse committee’s recommendations.
Matthew Hargraves, chairman of the committee, asked the council to submit a request to the SRC county commissioners to include city staff representation during the county’s development process for the new judicial center.
“Our understanding is that communication between the city staff and county staff has already been taking place,” Hargraves said.
The council voted unanimously in support of the committee’s recommendation.
Mayor Wesley Meiss asked Hargraves to give the council an update on the courthouse development process.
“Basically three of the five (county commissioners) publicly stated their support to have downtown Milton be the location that the electorate had chosen,” Hargraves said.
When asked by a concerned citizen at the meeting on which three commissioners showed support in keeping the courthouse in downtown Milton, Hargraves answered with Jayer Williamson, Rob Williamson and Lane Lynchard. Although the remaining commissioners, Bob Cole and Don Salter, have not voiced their support for the location, Hargraves mentioned a newspaper article quoted Salter as saying he wanted the courthouse issue to be resolved.
“I think the overall tone of the commission’s language is very positive for us,” Hargraves said.
Hargraves said having the city staff involved with the development would only benefit the city.
“The city needs to be involved via staff communication, especially with the development process,” he said.
Hargraves said having the transparency between the city and the county officials could lead to opportunities of cost cutting and input into constructing the proper judicial building in downtown Milton.
Hargraves suggests city staff work closely with the HOK engineering company, which is tasked by the county with designing the layout of a new courthouse facility.
Meiss agrees with the courthouse committee’s assessment.
“I think it’s only appropriate that the county’s seat, the city of Milton, have a seat at the table,” he said.
The council also voted in favor of drafting a resolution in support of the county’s funding request from the state for the judicial center.
Both items will appear as part of the consent agenda, which will be voted upon, in next week’s regular council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton: Council seeks representation in development of new judicial center