Residents Question Plan For Weston Courthouse
By JOHN WICKLINE, Staff WriterAbout two dozen people offered a variety of reasons why building a courthouse annex at the old Foodland property in Weston would not work, but none offered a viable solution to the problem of finding suitable space for Lewis County employees.
County commissioners had considered spending as much as $1.7 million to remodel and then enter into a lease/purchase agreement to obtain the former Foodland building and property on West Second Street.
The building would be used to house the health department, magistrate court and the County Commission.
Rinehart said the courthouse and the buildings used by the health department, magistrate court and the West Virginia University Extension Service have about $250,000 of work necessary to adhere to state requirements. A new, bare-bones courthouse and annex would cost nearly $7 million, Rinehart said.
"We have some beautiful old buildings, but they are just money pits," he said. "The logical thing is to just build (at the courthouse). But where do you put all of those people while you're building?"
Some of those in attendance questioned the cost of a new courthouse, wondering if the commissioners were seeking too fancy of a facility.
"We're not going to put up a metal shed," Rinehart said. "But it's not going to be gold-plated, either."
Several magistrate court clerks complained that the proposed layout of the building would make them the office receptionists, adding that their workload does not allow them to take on such a duty. They also complained they need to go to the courthouse, sheriff's department and post office frequently during the day, which would require a drive across town.
Rinehart said there is not enough room at the courthouse site to build the required offices right now, saying the county cannot afford to purchase adjacent properties and still pay for the construction.
The county commission is renting space in Garton Plaza for its offices, as well as for the Lewis County Economic Development Authority. The county is paying more than $1,500 monthly in rent and utility costs. The commissioners had moved there after spending months at the Board of Education's administrative offices, space which had been provided rent-free to them.
"It was a classroom, and we could only seat about eight or 10 people for our meetings," Rinehart said as he praised Superintendent Joe Mace for his courtesy in housing the commission. "We even went to the board room for meetings after one handicapped person read us the riot act. It just didn't work out for us."
Rinehart said the commissioners vacated their office in the courthouse after state lawmakers heaped additional duties on the county clerk's office. Those extra duties meant the clerk's office needed additional space to perform mandated services.
Some suggested that the county offices be relocated to the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital after officials there complete the new facility by Interstate 79. Hospital leaders hope their project can be completed in about five years.
But Rinehart and Commissioner Agnes Queen said they had been told there are other plans for the facility. The National Guard Armory, which is not within the city limits, was another suggestion, but that facility has been promised to the Board of Education.
"We need a minimum of 13,000 square feet," Rinehart said. "But 15,000 would make everybody happy."
