Matthew Hargraves, on a city appointed taskforce with Brad Johnson, Melissa Odam, Doug Whitfield, Steve Williams, Clyde Anderson, Jay Dixon, and Rhonda Chavers, presented findings to the Milton City Council during Monday's meeting as well as to the county on May 27 at the Judicial Facility Workshop. Hargraves said, "Our mission statement was to examine the potential for the retention and expansion of the courthouse at its current location in downtown Milton and to that end, identify a source or sources of funding for any increased costs of construction associated with the downtown site."
Three of the biggest issues with the downtown location are the cost to rebuild, parking, and traffic. Hargraves' taskforce addressed those concerns.
Hargraves referenced the design firm HOK’s memo addressed to the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners in 2001. The memo compared the cost of “constructing the courthouse on the downtown Milton site versus the cost of constructing on grade at the East Milton jail site.” HOK compared costs for the foundations, substructure and superstructure and concluded “the ultimate premium is a little over $1 million,” which Hargraves noted as a 3.6 percent premium. However, the memo said, “This doesn’t consider the extra cost of a bridge at the jail or the costs associated with moving away from the ‘support structure’ of downtown Milton (lawyers, office space, etc).” Hargraves said, “This 3.6 percent is a ceiling, not a floor." Hargraves said there are unique incentives in the city such as the use of sales tax. "There are a number of options Milton can offer to any cost increase," he said.
"Currently, there are 520 public parking spaces available," Hargraves said. "Plans drawn in 2001 added 300 [spaces] adjacent to the courthouse." He also said long term expansion called for a multi-level garage.
Addressing concerns about traffic bottle-necking at the bridge, Hargraves said the Highway 90 and East Milton sites would see new traffic controls. "We feel traffic is a problem that will travel with the courthouse."
While nothing is set in stone yet, Hargraves said he'll be presenting what his taskforce found to the county during its commissioner meeting Monday, with Randy Jorgenson, city planning director, in attendance as well. He expects the city will approve a resolution to request the county add the downtown location to November's ballot. Finally, the week's agenda should conclude with Mayor Guy Thompson attending the county commission’s regular meeting Thursday, according to Hargraves.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Downtown location most viable option for courthouse