Benton County officials eye court choices

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials will decide Thursday how to proceed with planning for a courts building.

Spending $205,250 for the second phase of a study is on the agenda for the Quorum Court meeting. The justices of the peace have expanded the scope of the study in recent meetings, adding Dave Peel Park in downtown Bentonville as a location.

What’s next

Benton County’s justices of the peace will resume consideration of the county’s courts building project when the Quorum Court meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Quorum Courtroom of the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville.

"For me, I want to know that we're looking at all the possibilities at all of the sites we're considering," Susan Anglin, justice of the peace, said of the need to proceed with the study. "We need to know what's possible."

Anglin favors a downtown courts facility, but she also has argued the study needs to include other locations.

"That's one reason I want us to continue with the study," she said. "We need to have more information to come to the right decision."

A study in January 2014 identified three sites -- two downtown and one on Southwest 14th Street near the county jail.

The Public Safety Committee endorsed a downtown building project early in 2015, and the Finance Committee explored financing options for a downtown building. Work on the proposal was delayed after six circuit judges sent a letter to County Judge Bob Clinard and the Quorum Court opposing both downtown plans as inadequate.

The Finance Committee voted July 7 to expand the study to focus on three options: Southwest 14th Street near the jail, a new building on Second Street downtown across the street from the courthouse and expanding the courthouse into the area between it and the County Administration Building. Adding plans to use the old courthouse increased the cost of the second phase of the study from $119,500 to about $178,000. The July 12 vote by the Committee of the Whole to add the Dave Peel Park site boosted the cost another $27,250 to the current $205,250.

Tom Allen, justice of the peace and chairman of the Finance Committee, wants the Quorum Court to consider the change in administration the county will experience Jan. 1. Clinard lost his bid for re-election to Barry Moehring, a justice of the peace who won the Republican Party nomination in the March primary. Moehring will face Ronnie L. Smith, the Libertarian Party candidate, and write-in candidate Jeff Broadston in the November general election.

"I think we have to be considering what will happen when Judge Clinard is no longer county judge on Jan. 1," Allen said. "Barring the biggest upset in Benton County history, Barry Moehring is going to be county judge. Barry has been pretty outspoken about what he wants to do in regards to the courthouse, and one thing I don't want us to do is spend precious money on architects and engineers that might be wasted."

Moehring said he's focused on campaigning and winning the election in November, but he sees the potential problems with a change in office. Moehring has pushed for a downtown courts expansion project using the county's buildings as much as possible.

"There is going to be a turnover in the administration, whether that is me or someone else," Moehring said. "That new administration is going to be responsible for this process going forward and I am concerned about how far we go with this process at the end of this administration's term. It feels like a pause might be a good thing."

Clinard favors the Southwest 14th Street location. He points to the ease of construction away from the congestion of downtown Bentonville and greater space available for parking and expansion.

Clinard indicated the process should proceed and the coming change in the county judge position shouldn't have any bearing on the study. The consultants should be allowed to do their work without interference, he said.

"I don't tell them what to do, nor will I allow the Quorum Court to tell them what to come up with," Clinard said. "That's why we hired them. To apply their knowledge and expertise to our needs and our situation and make their best recommendation."

Michele Chiocco, justice of the peace, also wants the study to proceed and to cover all options even though she favors a downtown courts facility.

"I think it's really smart to look at all the options," Chiocco said. "We have to see what they come up with. My preference would be to expand on the old courthouse, but that's just my personal opinion."

NW News on 07/24/2016

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