"So What Happened to the New Judicial Center?" by Tommy's Blogs

So What Happened to the New Judicial Center?

Blog: Tommy's Blogs

January 11, 2013

With the dawning of another year, the Moore County Board of Commissioners discussed various issues for the coming year at their annual retreat.

One open-ended matter tabled by Chairman Picerno during his previous term as Chairman was a decision over the Courts Facility, referred to as the Judicial Complex. The board as well as the Sheriff’s Department along party lines, attempted to garner support for the Rick Rhyne Detention Center under the guise of having both the RRDC and the Judicial Complex tied together in an effort to avoid prisoner transports to and from hearings or judicial reviews. Planning on the part of Moore County Authorities (Commissioners and Manager) recognized another failure of their insight to base decisions on a common sense approach to plans for needed facilities and building protocols based on needs.

After $500,000.00 of taxpayer money for planning, “the first space needs study 3/15/10 - Received a comprehensive space needs assessment from Solutions for Local Government” (Pilot 1-15-12) with an additional outlay of $50,000.00 to Chinn Planning Inc. of Columbia, S.C., and Ware Bonsall Architects of Charlotte.

Chairman Picerno was quoted as saying, “… estimated that the county has spent $2 million in recent years on architects’ fees, feasibility studies and other land use plans for the public safety complex and for a local government office building, the latter to be erected on an as yet undetermined site”. [sic] Commissioners’ Chairman Larry Caddell said, “While he was pleased to have the study completed, the recommendations were “not exactly” what he had anticipated”.

Board members have said that nothing has been decided, pending the results of the space needs study. There are now two studies. As taxpayers and property owners, it is time to voice our ire with this out of control spending where ambiguous planning is indecisive at a tremendous cost to taxpayers.

Toda 4 months, 1 week ago

One may chose to read the Pilot article for further qualification of Commissioner Caddell's comment: "the recommendations were “not exactly” what he had anticipated”.

His remarks were focused on continuing to utilize the existing cramped courts' facilities another 5 to 10 years. I find his comments profoundly dense after two assessments.

Anyone traveling through Pittsboro should take time to stop and see the state of the art Judicial Center. According to published reports at a cost of 21 million dollars. I'm sure should a decision ever come to fruition for a new Judicial Center, ours will be several million dollars more (exp. Harnett County DT).

Toda 4 months, 1 week ago

Bloggers who many except my comments on needs assessment, may want to step into Clerk of Courts Office Susan Hicks. Step in because that is the only room available!