With the fate of a $9.95 million remodel of Allen County Courthouse just five weeks away, a community forum next Tuesday evening will offer the public an opportunity to speak with those leading the effort to pass the bond project.
The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Allen County Courthouse. The meeting, sponsored by the Register, is open to the public at no cost. It will also be livestreamed.
The Oct. 10 event will begin with guided tours of the courthouse and presentations by the panelists. The second hour is dedicated to answering audience questions.
Have a burning question you want to make sure gets addressed, or a point you feel needs to be made? Submit them to us at [email protected] or by calling the Register office at (620) 365-2111. You can also submit them online here.
Questions fielded so far include:
∙ Would the new courthouse plan mean the west entrance to the courthouse would permanently close?
∙ Will all courthouse visitors have to pass through metal detectors?
∙ If this bond issue fails, are there other ways to finance the renovations?
∙ Would the renovated courthouse take up much green space?
The nearly $10 million proposal would build onto and renovate the Allen County Courthouse, adding a second courtroom nearly identical to the existing one and featuring numerous security improvements. It would also add new offices for court staff and judges, along with a new secure entry and lobby that would be handicapped accessible.
Advance voting begins Oct. 18 until noon Monday, Nov. 6. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Panelists include Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy; Dina Morrison, chief clerk administrator; Kevin McGuffin, chief court services officer; Vince Haines, architect, Gravity Works Architecture; Tad Johnson, construction manager, Crossland Construction; Gregory Vahrenberg, managing director of Raymond James Public Finance; Bob Johnson, Johnson Schowengerdt, PA; and Dan Creitz, chief judge of the 31st Judicial District.
Two more forums are in the works. Creitz and Sheriff Bryan Murphy will conduct community conversations about the project from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight at the Humboldt Senior Center and on Oct. 11 at the Moran Senior Center.
