Local officials hope to transition Barren County’s court functions from the current courthouse, pictured here, to a newer and updated judicial center, which will be funded by the state of Kentucky.
(WCLU NEWS FILE PHOTO)
GLASGOW — The board charged with overseeing the development of a new judicial center in Barren County voted Tuesday to make an offer on a certain property.
The judicial center will be constructed somewhere near Glasgow’s downtown district. The project is funded by the state government.
The board entered a closed session at its special meeting, which lasted about 20 minutes before officials returned to open session. They voted to approach an unknown property owner to issue a potential offer to purchase.
John T. Alexander, Barren Circuit judge, explained at an earlier meeting how the board ranked eight sites and selected which to pursue first. Board members described Tuesday the property of interest as “site option six.” Little is known about the section of property.
Most of the board’s meetings have been held behind closed doors. Board members are hopeful meetings will be held before the public following the selection of a site, they said.
The judicial center will house Barren County’s court functions, including the circuit court clerk’s office. The current courthouse will not be destroyed but repurposed for some county-based offices, according to several comments from government officials.
The judicial center project’s architect is Silling Associates Inc. & Integrity Architecture PLLC. Alliance Corporation is overseeing the construction.
The project is estimated to cost $32,115,000, which was allotted from the state’s general fund by the state legislature. Ten other counties are slated to receive a new judicial center, too.
Construction here is expected to begin later this year or early next year.
