The Hall County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 19. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — Hall County Commissioners voted 5-2 Tuesday to have architects focus on planning an addition to the Hall County Courthouse.
Commissioners Karen Bredthauer and Gary Quandt voted against the motion.
The motion means that commissioners do not plan to proceed with purchasing the former Principal Financial Group building from the Grand Island Public Schools to use for courtroom space and office space for the county attorney and public defender.
Hall County Sheriff Rick Conrad pointed out that the Principal Financial Group building is close to a residential area and West Lawn Elementary School. He was concerned about how many times the school might have to go into a lockdown because of situations at the Principal Financial Group building if it contained courtrooms.
Davis Design has created plans for an addition to the Hall County Courthouse.
Considerable time was spent discussing features of the Principal Financial Group building, which commissioners have toured. The building covers approximately 125,000 square feet. It was noted that ceilings are 9 feet high, with taller ceilings preferable. The building has only one elevator and a large amount of glass. The HVAC system would be costly to repair.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said commissioners “need to know if it’s feasible to remodel the building.”
Commissioner Scott Sorensen asked what the cost per square foot would be to remodel the building. He said commissioners need to know if the building is for sale and what the cost is.
It was noted that the school district is still making payments to Principal Financial Group to purchase the building. That raised the question concerning why wasn’t the county getting information from Principal Financial Group rather than Grand Island Public Schools.
The Principal Financial Group building was constructed in 1980.
Commissioner Butch Hurst noted that it was suggested building a courthouse addition closer to the police station.
“Now we’re looking at a site further away. It isn’t going to work. It was a good idea, but it isn’t practical,” Hurst said.
Commissioner Jane Richardson said she was concerned about the close proximity of the Principal Financial Group building to West Lawn Elementary School and its students.
Commissioner Gary Quandt then launched questions about a proposed courthouse addition. He described it as a “Taj Mahal.”
“We’re spending $40 million on a band aid approach,” Quandt said. “This is a waste of taxpayers’ money” concerning the plans that the architects have created. “Your plan is a joke,” he said. “Let’s take a deep breath and come up and do it right. I’m in favor of doing something but not this.”
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said the architects “have been phenomenal to work with.”
In other business, commissioners hear a presentation from Brad Mellema, executive director of the Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, concerning the visitor improvement fund disbursement for 2024. Recommended items to be funded and amounts are:
- Veterans Cemetery, $70,000.
- Hall County Warriors Memorial, $15,000.
- Agricultural Institute of Nebraska, $75,000.
- Nebraska State Trapshooting Association, $30,000.
- Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority, $100,000.
- Stuhr Museum, $35,000.
- Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation for Ak-Sar-Ben stock show, $50,000.
- Heartland Public Shooting Park, $77,000.
SUBTOTAL: $527,000.
- Convention and Visitors Bureau Marketing, $150,000.
- 3% grant administrative fee, $20,310.
TOTAL: $697,310.
Next, commissioners discussed that the last day that Senior Citizens Industries would provide transportation services is March 30. Holiday Express would begin providing services on April 1.
Jail Director Todd Bahensky discussed providing computer tablets for prisoners. The tablets would be used for educational purposes and to do legal research but not for recreational use. Bahensky said 150 to 200 tablets would be purchased.
