Mark Bowman, a magistrate for Barren County fifth district, speaks to members of a project development board overseeing the construction of a new court facility in the county at a Barren Fiscal Court meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Magistrates in Barren County on Tuesday were provided an update regarding the planned construction of a new court facility along West Main Street.
A project development board was formed when the project became reality nearly two years ago. The board has most recently worked to secure property for the project through negotiations with the Dollar General Corporation, the city of Glasgow and Glasgow Water Company.
John T. Alexander, Barren Circuit judge, is a member of the project development board overseeing the judicial center’s construction. He detailed the Glasgow Council’s recent approved on Sept. 12 of an option-to-purchase agreement, which outlines terms for the purchase of 3.26 acres of city-owned land along West Main Street. The agreement must be signed within 90 days.
“We got on the agenda and went to the city council and had a public meeting,” Alexander said. “That’s what was presented to them, and that’s what they agreed to sell us.”
Mark Bowman, a magistrate representing Barren County’s fifth district, said he was not aware the city council had passed the resolution. Magistrates had put forth an option-to-purchase agreement for consideration, but it was voted down by the council in late August.
The latest option-to-purchase agreement was put forth by the PDB rather than the court and did not seek 5.098 acres of the city-owned land like the fiscal court’s agreement did. Councilmembers voted to accept it.
“Is that an adequate amount of property purchased to do that?” Bowman said.
“The architects are telling us it is,” said Mark Bannister, Capital Construction Manager for the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.
Magistrates said before they sought to purchase all 5.098 acres to ensure architects had ample space to design and build the facility. Bowman later remarked he wanted the project “done the right way.”
As for the other negotiations, the Dollar General Corporation continues to make minor adjustments to a contract granting the sale. Those are mainly to ensure they have “the most advantageous option” to remain in the building to explore other options, Alexander said.
A “volumetric test fit” was provided to the PDB by architects and construction specialists, which provided a conceptual view of the eventual project on the land. It confirmed the acreage was ample.
In all, the Dollar General, Glasgow Water Company and city-owned property will amass to more than 4 acres for the project – including parking and other space outside the building.
An appraisal of the city’s West Main property is expected to be completed within 60 days. The PDB cannot pay more than the appraised value, and the city cannot sell it for a value cheaper than the appraised value. The Barren County Property Corporation will be the official deed holder of the properties.
The design phase of the court facility will proceed once those properties are acquired. The project remains on track to be complete some time in 2024.
