- April 25, 2024
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If the Courthouse Blue-Ribbon Committee doesn’t have investors or tenants who would make the old courthouse financially self-supporting by March 31, the County Commission is ready to “be done with it.”
The courthouse costs the county about $70,000 a year, much of that in cooling costs.
The committee, headed by County Commissioner Barbara Revels, submitted its findings to the county, suggesting that the courthouse not be sold or torn down at this time, and asking for two things: a bit more time to find tenants for it, and a wider mandate that would let the committee discuss the financial specifics of possible deals with businesses and agencies.
“We believe there are a number of community organizations and businesses that would view this facility as a potential place to be,” Revels said at a Nov. 17 County Commission meeting. It’s unlikely that any one party would be able to take the whole building, she said, but a number of them might be willing to share space.
County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin cast the sole vote against giving the committee more time, saying he felt the commission should auction it off. “All I hear on the news and talk on the street is, ‘Just be done with the thing,’” he said.
He pointed out that when the county held an open house to show people the building, less than 100 people came, and many of those were affiliated with the county in some way. “There doesn’t appear to me to be a lot of interest in our community to spend any money on this.” He contrasted the courthouse with the Carver Gym, which was saved from potential destruction after the community came together and organized around it.
McLaughlin also said that renting out space in the building would put the county in competition with the private sector when there are local people who have properties they can’t find tenants for.
Revels said, “I think the sentiment in the county is, ‘If you can save the structure and make it fund itself, more power to you.’”
During public comment, local pastor the Rev. Sims Jones said his agency, God’s Love Ministries, was one of a number he knew of that would be interested in using the building, but needed to know for sure that it would be available in order to go out for funding sources that would allow them to pay for the space.
Michael Barr, of the Bunnell Chamber of Commerce, also urged the commission to give the committee more time.
“There is more to community value than just the almighty dollar,” he said. “I would recommend that you not make early decisions or judgments on the situation with the courthouse.”
Commissioner Charlie Ericksen pointed out that the whole building would not necessarily have to be rented out for it to break even, and Commissioner Frank Meeker said there are other possibilities that the county could consider, like putting the Bunnell library branch in the courthouse annex.
Commission Chairman George Hanns said much of Europe still makes use of buildings that are centuries old, and said favored giving the committee more time.
