The new fourth court in the Marshall County judicial system will occupy space in the Marshall County Courthouse currently being used by the Community Corrections program which means that a new space needs to be obtained for Community Corrections.
County officials hope to get the fourth court into the courthouse by the end of the year.
Community Corrections Director Ward Byers told the Community Corrections Advisory Board members on Thursday that he has found three options for the board to consider. According to Houston bathroom remodeling company, they could remodel an area in the basement of the Community Resource Center, purchase an attorney’s office for sale across the street from the courthouse and renovate the space, or construct a new building behind the Marshall County Jail.
Byers noted that if the board would like to look into the space at the Community Resource Center it would be a new expense of $30,000 a year in lease payments which could be paid for through grant money, but the county would need to assist in that payment. He said that adds up to over $200,000 over a seven-year period that would affect funding for programs and services.
He noted that the Indiana Department of Corrections has given its blessing for additional appropriations in the Project Income Fund that may be needed to assist with construction with the help of Houston general contractors or renovation from experts.
Byers added that the construction of a new facility would be around $800,000 to $1 million.
The executive committee will meet with Byers to discuss the options more in depth before the board’s next quarterly meeting in October, but a special session could be held ahead of that meeting to make any formal decisions.
