Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Courthouse Move Storage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs $20,000 contingency for courthouse move storage; department heads pledge $38,000
Summary
Council members agreed the county should fund short-term storage for courthouse renovation and temporary relocation, approving a $20,000 contingency from a recent special distribution and noting department heads have pledged about $38,000 toward moving costs. Staff plan to lease a 5,000 sq ft building at $2,500 per month on a nine-month term.
Clinton County Council members signaled support for immediate funding to secure storage and moving logistics for the planned courthouse renovation and temporary relocation.
Judge Mueller and county office-holders described a combined need: short-term storage for furniture and records while renovation occurs in the courthouse and temporary space needs for courts, the clerk and prosecutor across the street. The group said they sought a single storage site to centralize costs and simplify access. Bill Miller, owner of a vacant 5,000-square-foot building near the courthouse, offered the space at $6 per square foot annually; county negotiators agreed to a monthly rental of $2,500 with a nine-month contract and a three-month extension option.
Judge Mueller and staff said the facility has heat and a concrete floor but not central air; they discussed mitigation options such as dehumidifiers or industrial fans to protect records. "We think we'll have plenty of room for all of that," Judge Mueller said of the 5,000-square-foot site and noted the building is on a main road and the owner would rekey and help secure it.
Councilmembers and department heads said they previously identified roughly $38,000 across department budgets to help cover moving costs and that the council should appropriate additional one-time funds for storage. Councilmember Mike moved and Councilmember Joe seconded a motion to pledge $20,000 from a recent special distribution toward storage and moving contingencies; the motion passed 6-0. The council noted the commissioners must sign lease contracts, and that the funds must be advertised and formally appropriated before execution.
Officials said moving cost estimates to the new building total roughly $25,000 for professional movers for large items; additional costs to move material into storage have not yet been quoted and will be provided once inventory is complete. Department heads said they will handle smaller items and containers themselves where practical and will arrange document-shredding and dumpster removal for unneeded materials.
Council leaders asked that commissioners include an annex/storage appropriation line in the commissioners' budget and indicated the $20,000 would act as an upfront contingency drawn from the special distribution for this fiscal year. The council recorded a 6-0 consensus to support the expenditure and directed staff to coordinate with commissioners and the property owner on contract details.
