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Morrow County hears detailed courthouse design as price, schedule and state share are clarified
Summary
Designers presented a refined plan for a smaller, one‑courtroom courthouse with a $35 million budget; county staff and the state will split costs (approx. 58% county / 42% state), and the team seeks final contract and bidding through late 2025 with occupancy targeted for mid‑2027.
Designers from DLR Group, Boughton and Alliance told the Morrow County Board of Commissioners the courthouse design has moved through the design‑development phase and is close to the county’s budget target.
The project scope now excludes the justice court and reduces the building footprint to roughly 22,900 square feet. The team said the total project budget remains $35,000,000. Under a recalculated allocation the state will reimburse approximately 42% of the total (about $14,600,000) and the county would cover the remaining 58% (about $20,000,000), although designers said the state has indicated its available funds remain short and county staff will seek clarification from the Oregon Judicial Department before finalizing numbers.
"The budget hasn't changed. The total project's been steady at $35,000,000," said a DLR Group representative, who added the design includes about $750,000 of contingency and a set of value‑engineering options that could reduce the estimate if needed.
Designers displayed renderings and materials samples emphasizing regional basalt and sandstone finishes, and described structural choices — including a large exposed glulam beam to span the courtroom without interior columns — and integrated AV, acoustics and security screening. The team said the building is organized so the public enters from the south with staff parking and sally port access on the north side.
County officials said the project will move into construction document preparation, with bidding planned in November and likely final contract (GMP) approval late this year or early next. If schedules hold, designers said a ceremonial groundbreaking could be possible in February and a target substantial completion and move‑in around June 2027.
Commissioners discussed potential impacts to fair and rodeo parking in 2026, and staff said fair organizers have volunteered to separate or shift rodeo scheduling to reduce conflicts.
What’s next: commissioners will receive a subsequent check‑in when construction documents are complete and before the permit submittal and bid phase; county staff continue to reconcile state reimbursement details with OJD and the state budget office.
