Thurston County commissioners concur on scaled‑back Courthouse Hill renovation; staff to return with contract in March

Thurston County commissioners on Jan. 8 directed staff to move forward with the staff‑recommended, scaled‑back renovation of the Courthouse Hill complex, endorsing a scope that staff estimated at about $4.4 million for interior work and roughly $1 million more for exterior roof work, for a maximum preliminary estimate of $5.5 million. Assistant County Manager Josh Cummings framed the recommendation and asked the board for direction.

The recommendation matters because county leaders said the work is meant to extend the courthouse complex’s operational life while the county evaluates longer‑term options such as lease‑to‑own or acquiring a new facility. County Manager Leonard Hernandez said the aim is to “extend the operational lifespan of the current courthouse complex for 5, 7 years, to give us time to do an analysis,” which would allow staff to pursue a parallel competitive process for potential new facilities.

Staff presented three budget-and‑scope options. Option 1 was roughly $2.3 million and focused on basic upgrades (paint, carpet, HVAC, IT, wayfinding and limited ADA restroom work). Option 2 was about $3.6 million and added additional door and accessibility work.…