Milton city officials plan to further advocate building a new Santa Rosa County judicial center this week by meeting with the Board of County Commissioners. At the same time, a new piece of property is in consideration and is expected to be discussed during the meeting, and it’s not downtown.
Local attorney Matthew Hargraves, who serves as the chair for the city’s Courthouse Committee, said “this is an important week for the courthouse.”
“There is not a lot of time between now and then to advocate for (keeping the courthouse in downtown Milton),” because they will discuss it at committee on Monday and they will vote on it on Thursday,” Hargraves said. “So our recommendation is that the city council, along with staff meet with commissioners this week to advocate for this proposed location and footprint for the judicial facility to be located in downtown.”
On behalf of the courthouse committee, Hargraves provided the council with two footprint layout options with the intention to address any concerns the commissioners would have. The options include building on property north of Pine Street in between Willing and Elmira streets.
“It will accommodate the size structure that will be sufficient to meet the county’s needs for a judicial facility, whether that is two-story or three-story building.” Hargraves said.
The second piece of property, while still within city limits, is the five-plus acres behind the United Way of Santa Rosa County (UWSR) building near the county annex.
UWSR Executive Director Guy Thompson said he’s torn over the site because he’s the one who organized the committee to keep the courthouse downtown, but he said purchase of the property would be of benefit as the money would funnel through the nonprofit and into the community.
The money from the sale would go directly to the local United Way. Thompson said, “Each United Way is autonomous. We are members of the worldwide United Way, but membership only includes us using their supplies and going by their direction on how to market and using the brand right…We’re all a separate 501(c)3.”
Last month, the BOCC tabled the discussion until next week’s meetings. With opposition from Commissioners Don Salter and Bob Cole, Commissioner Jayer Williamson wanted to wait until more information was available regarding the Pine Street location before making a decision. Thompson said he believed the suggestion for the United Way property came from Jayer Williamson, who was unavailable for comment by press time on this story.
City Manager Brian Watkins suggested the council advocate in keeping the courthouse downtown regardless.
“I think we just need to maintain a firm position that we are advocates for the downtown location,” Watkins said. “We really need to take to the county commissioners as many options as we can put on the table to get three of them to vote for downtown.”
The council unanimously approved a motion made by Council Member Marilyn Jones, which provides the additional footprint options for the commissioner’s consideration to bring the courthouse downtown.
Watkins also informed the council of the city’s progress in attaining purchase options on downtown property parcels in order to better accommodate a new courthouse facility. Currently, the city has attained two property parcels with three parcels in the works, Watkins said.
Watkins said city staff have reached an agreement with another parcel owner on property located between Elmira and Willing Street, north of Pine Street.
“We were looking for an option where we would not have to close on the property until September 30 of 2016,” Watkins said. “However, the price for the property is $100,000 for (the property owner)…we did an appraisal for her property at $48,000.”
Watkins said the agreement would cost the city $2,500.
Council Member Jimmy Messick was in favor of the agreement.
“If the courthouse goes there it is certainly going to be higher and $2,500 to hold that, I think it is a very reasonable amount,” Messick said.
The council unanimously voted in favor of the purchase agreement.
Watkins said the city also has a purchase contract pending for a parcel owned by 90 Works. The contract is expected to be brought before the organization’s board of executives for approval. The city is also working with CSX Corporation on attaining a nearby parcel as well.
Should a new courthouse location be placed elsewhere, Watkins said the attained parcels would then be used for the city’s master plan for redeveloping downtown Milton.
“We will find something to do with it,” Watkins said. “It will work and it will improve downtown.”
The United Way property is anticipated to come before the Santa Rosa County Board of CountyCommissioners Monday during its 9 a.m. Commission Committee meeting. Thompson said he expects to attend. Keep up with the Press Gazette for a follow up on this breaking news story.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: New city location possible for courthouse