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Plan North presents master-plan updates for Washington County Expo and proposed judicial center
Summary
Plan North told the Washington County Commissioners Court on July 22 that work on an Expo master plan and a study for a judicial center is under way, with infrastructure, ventilation and accessibility flagged as near-term needs and a recommendation likely to place the new judicial center adjacent to the jail and sheriff’s office.
The Washington County Commissioners Court heard a progress update from Plan North on July 22, 2025, covering the Expo master plan and a study of a proposed judicial center across Old Independence from the fairgrounds.
Plan North consultant Katie Birch told the court the master plan prioritizes infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades at the Washington County Expo, including electrical, ventilation and drainage work, and improved access for older residents and children. Birch said community stakeholders generally supported moving the fairgrounds’ main entrance from Bluebell Road to Old Independence and studying an addition and renovation to the current sales facility and a covered rodeo arena.
Birch said the judicial center study used department interviews—district attorney, county attorney, county and district courts, county clerk, district clerk, adult and juvenile probation and constables—to identify operational needs. She said those needs are “not a wish list” and that the recommended site is the county-owned property adjacent to the jail and sheriff’s office. Birch described challenges at the current sheriff’s sally port and said planners are studying a secure connection between the jail and the new judicial center, possibly via a second-floor link, and new roads and parking to improve transport and fairground parking.
Birch described terrain and drainage constraints and said the team is developing drawings and recommendations to return to the court. Commissioners emphasized validating user needs by consulting departments that will use the facilities. Commissioner comments also stressed trying to get the design right from the start to avoid later retrofits.
Birch said the team will return with plans for review; no formal action was taken.
Ending: Commissioners expressed appreciation for the work and asked Plan North to return with draft plans and to show how the proposed site would connect to the jail and address grading, drainage and parking.
