County space needs

By Paul Koeper

The old federal courthouse at 339 Broadway in Cape Girardeau has been under the microscope for the past year. As county commissioner, I have spent several hundred hours, with the help of others, gathering information to obtain a feasibility study and cost analysis for the commissioners to review for possible purchase by Cape Girardeau County.

Counties in Missouri are required by state statute to provide courtrooms, office space, office supplies for state circuit courts and employees. Currently the prosecuting attorney, Division III circuit court, judge, circuit clerk, staff, and drug court administrator are in the county courthouse in Jackson. In addition to the Jackson courthouse, we are using the Common Pleas Courthouse and Annex (old city library) in Cape Girardeau to provide courtroom and office space for the Division I, II and IV judges and their staffs. The annex is the home of our juvenile office, legal library and satellite offices for our county clerk, assessor, collector and District 2 commissioner.

The county is required to pay all maintenance, repairs and utilities for the use of the Common Pleas Courthouse. Last year we experienced major repairs to the HVAC system and ceiling in the main courtroom. Restrooms for the public and employees are scarce. And American Disabilities Act accessibility is very limited. The building does not have an elevator, and visitors and people attending courts line up in the hallway. The wet basement with dirt and concrete floors has two dehumidifiers running constantly. This is the area where prisoners were held 150 years ago, and we are currently storing documents, electronics and the phone system there. Security for the judges, staff and the public is almost impossible.

As stated above, we are required by law to furnish the state employees (judges, circuit clerk and staff) a good, sufficient and secure building to work in. The Common Pleas Courthouse was an excellent facility 150 years ago and should be preserved in the form of a historical landmark.

The county commission has been negotiating with the General Services Administration, which is responsible for federal government surplus property disposal, for the past month. The GSA made us an offer and stated how it arrived at that offer. GSA stated that its offer considered the current building condition and the special circumstance of selling it to a local government. The GSA requested we keep its offer confidential until the process is complete. My discussions with the GSA included verifying that their offer included all existing conditions and deficiencies with this building.

In my opinion, the old federal courthouse, built in 1967, is a perfect fit for Cape Girardeau County. We could move all offices and staff from the Common Pleas courthouse and Annex to the "new" facility. This building would provide offices, security, courtrooms, ADA accessibility and a building that should be around for another 50 years. If we decided in the near future to build another courthouse or a building to accommodate our needs, we could be faced with a $10 million to $15 million building. This would require a tax increase and a vote of the citizens to approve. With our current economy, I don't believe we should entertain that idea.

In closing, the county should buy this property at the offer negotiated with the GSA. We can purchase this building without a tax increase, although it will not easy, using our current resources and cash flow. Repairs to make the building more energy efficient and meet the new requirements of the ADA would be completed before offices are moved. The GSA has given us a deadline of July 30 to make our decision, but the county would probably not be able to take over the building until the later part of the year. The decision regarding the acquisition of the federal courthouse (or any major purchase) is not taken lightly by the commission. We all research, evaluate and try to anticipate our future needs. We lose a little sleep and feel all the anxiety associated with making important decisions, which the citizens elect us to make. These decisions are made with the best interests of the county in mind, by us, your fellow citizens. Thank you.

Paul Koeper of Jackson represents the 1st District on the Cape Girardeau County Commission.