By SUSAN WHEELDON, Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset
April 04, 2008 07:09 pm
—
The Pulaski County Fiscal Court now owns the last piece of property needed to build the Pulaski County Judicial Center.
The court acquired the land at 100 South Central Ave., located on the corner of South Central Avenue and Market Street, on March 27. The two tracts of land, previously owned by Terry and Lorri Mills, was bought for $185,000.
The Mills property was the only property that the county had not closed upon.
Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock, who is chairman of the judicial development board, said currently geo-technical surveys/environmental studies are being performed by an agency called Shields, looking into the conditions of the buildings before demolition begins.
The chairman of the board said the utilities in that area also have to be relocated before demolition can begin.
“Hopefully we will be able to begin the demolition process soon,” said Bullock, who added he wished they were already at that point.
Lorie Hines, who serves as secretary of the judicial development board, noted they are also currently working to get the city streets that will be closed for the project deeded to the county. She said Deputy Judge Donnie Girdler is working with Mayor Eddie Girdler and his different department heads on the relocation process of the utilities.
Hines said Shields will be on site April 11 and 12 completing the geo-technical survey and taking samples to see if there are any hazardous materials in the buildings before demolition begins. She said if any such materials are found they would need to be included in the demolition package.
“As soon as Shields finishes the report, we can take bids for a demolition package,” said Hines.
She said a survey of what is under the surface of the properties also has to be taken.
Meanwhile, architect Hugh Bennett with Bennett and Rosser, said they are moving along as quickly as they can at this point. Bennett said though people can’t see much happening, there is “a huge amount happening behind the scenes.”
The architect said he is continuing to work on the design and he believes once the environmental study is completed, demolition should begin in the near future.
The judicial complex will be located in the area of Market Street and South Maple Street, in downtown Somerset. The plan took properties that were along the downtown Fountain Square and South Maple Streets, along with Market Street.
Properties which have been purchased for the judicial center include the former storefronts of The Pink Bee, Kasandra’s Pie Barn, God’s Food Pantry, Brandywine Studios, Ron Wilson’s office, the Smith Staples building, Coldiron offices, the Salutsky building, David Rogers Photography, The Mills building, Southern Office Supply, Bowan building and the First and Farmers Bank drive-thru.
The Pulaski County Judicial Center project was one of the 18 judicial center projects authorized by the 2005 General Assembly and funded by the 2006 General Assembly. The original project plan was for a 77,000-square-foot judicial center with an estimated total project cost of $22.4 million.
People can see a multi-media rendering of what the new Judicial Center will look like from different angles of downtown by visiting “You Tube” on the Internet. Upon going to the site, type in “Pulaski County Judicial Center” and the video clip will come up.
The next planning and development board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on April 22.
Members of the Judicial Planning and Development Board include Bullock, chair; circuit clerk George Flynn, vice chair; magistrate Mike Wilson; circuit judge Jeffrey Burdette; attorney John Prather Jr.; and Sarah Boswell Dent, representing the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
The purpose of the board is to ensure that county and court officials have input on all aspects of the project.
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