Lincoln County approves $528,336.80 furniture package for new Justice Center despite public objections

The Lincoln County Commission voted Feb. 10 to authorize the chair to sign a $528,336.80 furniture proposal for the county’s new Justice Center.

Consultant Julie Dotzneroff of the TEGRA Group told commissioners the design team held 10 hour‑long meetings and reviewed every courtroom and office to determine required furniture, saying the final quote was "below what we anticipated" and that state contract pricing was used. She told the commission that refitting existing courthouse furniture would not have matched the new building’s room sizes and that buying new was more cost‑effective than modifying older pieces.

The decision drew public objection during the meeting’s public comment period. "A half $1,000,000 for furniture just seems ridiculous," said Beth Quayle of Harrisburg, referencing the overall cost and concerns about property tax burdens. Another commenter, Lehi me Montgomery, said it was “discouraging that we continue in this room to spend more and more money” and urged commissioners to be “more cognizant of your citizens and what you are spending.”

Commissioners discussed whether any existing furniture would be reused; Dotzneroff said pieces were evaluated but did not fit the new spaces and that reuse-plus‑refinishing would have been less consistent and more expensive overall. She also noted the state is purchasing furnishings for judges’ chambers separately and that the county’s selections were coordinated with state purchases where appropriate.

The motion to approve the furniture package passed by roll call. The meeting record shows dissent from two commissioners during the vote.

The next procedural steps are implementation and scheduling of delivery and installation; the county did not provide a separate breakout of replacement versus new items in the public presentation.