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Scott County staff weighs $7 million courthouse expansion; Moseley Architects proposal priced at $406,000 for design services
Summary
County staff presented a courthouse space-needs history and a Moseley Architects proposal for schematic design through construction administration; staff estimated approximately $7 million to build a 10,400 sq ft addition and a 15-year debt service of about $678,000 annually, and asked the board to consider options and return in September.
County staff summarized more than a decade of courthouse renovations, space shortages and options to relieve pressure on court operations and office space, then presented a proposal from Moseley Architects to provide design services for an addition and related secure inmate-holding facilities.
Miss Donner, speaking for county staff, said Moseley proposed $406,000 for full design through construction administration for an approximately 10,400-square-foot addition that would accommodate a sally port and inmate holding on the first floor and offices (including space for the Commonwealth's Attorney) on the first and second floors. Based on escalation since an earlier 2022 study, staff estimated total construction cost "a little under $7,000,000," and projected a 15-year debt-service payment of about $678,000 per year at an assumed 4.5% interest rate.
Board members discussed alternatives such as constructing only a sally port/inmate-holding wing now (to reduce near-term cost) and leaving the Commonwealth's Attorney's office in its current leased space, or moving victim-witness offices into the old library to reduce required new construction. Supervisors repeatedly raised trade-offs: building only minimal secure holding now would lower immediate borrowing needs but could require more costly expansions later. One supervisor noted the original 2021 space study offered options whose projected costs ranged from $26 million to $36–37 million for larger rebuild alternatives.
Staff did not ask for immediate contract approval; instead, the proposal and cost estimates were presented for review and the board requested staff return in September with recommended next steps and cost options.
What happens next: Staff will discuss scope alternatives with Moseley, evaluate phased approaches (sally port/inmate holding vs. full addition), and provide cost/financing scenarios at the September meeting.
