The Barren County Courthouse, located in the central portion of Glasgow’s downtown corridor, will part ways with the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts in the coming years. A new judicial center was approved by the Kentucky General Assembly to be built in Barren County.
(AARON RUSSELL/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW, Ky. — An architectural firm has been selected for a project to construct a new judicial center in Barren County.
The Project Development Board, which governs the project, voted to select Silling and Integrity Architects as the firm for the project. The selection came after several firm presentations during a closed session Feb. 24.
“That [the vote] was based on the rankings and the scores of the interviews done today,” said PDB member Krissie Fields.
The board voted unanimously to approve the firm.
How did Barren County get selected for this project?
State officials review judiciary centers and offers evaluations regarding their viability, Hale said. Those reports are delivered to judge executives.
Hale said he presents those evaluations to the fiscal court.
Several factors were revealed in recent evaluations. Some of those include the lack of necessary spacing for court proceedings and inmate holding. Security concerns were also cited.
“When this was offered, my first impression was ‘yes, we need to do this,’” Hale said.
The current courthouse was dedicated May 8, 1965. The construction was completed the year before.
Barren Circuit Judge John T. Alexander said the case load increased throughout his time as district judge. The cases continue to increase as Judge Gabe Pendleton holds the position.
“It’s certainly has not changed since he became the district judge,” Alexander said. “The case load has gone up to a considerable degree that I don’t think anybody foresaw.”
Alexander said Barren County set a record in 2019 for the highest number of criminal indictments in the circuit. The number jumped from an average of 450 to 699.
Other issues include the lack of waiting areas for family court cases. The current courthouse is also not compliant with the American Disabilities Act. The current entrance to the courthouse requires people to climb several stairs, and extreme accommodations must be made when that’s not possible.
Who pays for the project?
The Barren County Judicial Center will be funded completely with state allocated monies. The total investment is $32 million.
“Not only is it a $32 million investment, but we’ll be utilizing local companies to help build this,” Hale said. “That creates jobs in our community.”
Barren County was among a few other counties selected to receive a new judicial center. The Kentucky General Assembly allocated the money in a prior session, and that money is specifically for the project.
The Administrative Office of the Courts leases the current courthouse from the Barren County fiscal court. The same stipulation will exist with the new judicial center.
“The state will come in. They will purchase land from us in Barren County,” Hale said. “And then they’ll build the facility at their cost.”
The judicial center is funded by tax dollars from Kentucky’s General Fund. In essence, Barren Countians will contribute 1/120 of the cost. Tax dollars from citizens in Kentucky’s other 119 counties will also be used to fund the project.
What will happen to the current courthouse?
The current courthouse will be given to the fiscal court. Any remaining debts will then be assumed and paid.
“That courthouse on the Square will not be torn down,” Hale said.
Hale said there have been discussions regarding the building’s use. He said some county offices will likely be located to the building. The Barren County Clerk’s office lacks necessary spacing, and the court hopes to relocate it across the street.
The Barren County Government Center, which was constructed in 2001, does not hold any debt. Hale said the building could be used to house future industry or economic interests.
A location has yet to be determined for the judicial center. The Glasgow City Council approved a portion of land to be sold to the fiscal court, but that sale has yet to be finalized.
Officials estimate the project’s completion to occur in late 2023 or early 2024.
The PDB is scheduled to meet again March 31, 2021 at 1 p.m. The meeting are held via Zoom and are live streamed on YouTube.
