Dear Editor:
The opinion in the Aug. 30 News Tribune titled "Dilemma invites county to rethink expansion" was on target. Here are some related thoughts and comments. The Cole County Commission has taken the position that the old jail and sheriff's residence are of no historical significance. From both an architectural and event perspective they are just as historical as the Cole County Court House. They are a part of the courthouse complex.
During a ceremony at City Hall the presiding commissioner was presented and took possession of a bronze plaque from the Jefferson City Historic Preservation Commission, which designated the jail and sheriff's residence as local historic landmarks. The plaque was never installed. Earlier this summer some members of the preservation commission were told the plaque had never been accepted by the commission. I observed the plaque leaning against a wall in the commission chamber.
During a meeting this summer members of the Historic City of Jefferson asked county commissioners what source of funding would be used for demolition and new construction. We were told the source would be receivership funds. In the past receivership funds have been controlled by circuit judges. During the same meeting we were told there exists between 8,000-10,000 square feet of empty space in the new Cole County Justice Center. I strongly supported the new justice center, however, have taxpayers forgotten the extensive project overruns associated with the jail complex? The initial cost estimate was $18-22 million and when completed it was well over $30 million.
Several years ago when the new justice center complex was being discussed there was consideration for a courtroom to be placed in the complex. Historic City of Jefferson members were recently told that a courtroom cannot be placed in the same complex where a jail is located. No specific case prohibiting such was cited. For years a courtroom did exist and was used extensively on the top floor of the old Cole County jail.
The old jail and sheriff's residence should not remain vacant. There should be an adaptive reuse of the structures. Their external architectural integrity should be maintained. To demolish the structures and rebuild on the site at a cost of between $3.1 and 3.4 million is not a responsible use of funds regardless of who is pulling the strings behind the scene.
The Cole County Commission should rethink the project since the cost has jumped from original estimates of $1.6 million, then to $2.5 million and now $3.1-$3.4 million. Who knows what the final cost will be.