Meade County in line for new courthouse
By KAREN KENNEDY According to the Kentucky Court of Justice’s 2006-2012 Capital Plan, Meade County is in line for a new courthouse. A new courthouse for Meade County is probably long overdue and can’t come soon enough, since the functions and employees housed there have long ago outgrown the facility. The Meade County Courthouse was at one time located on Main Street in Brandenburg. Following the destruction of the courthouse during the April 1974 tornado that devastated Brandenburg, a new courthouse was built on Fairway Drive. The courthouse was dedicated on April 3, 1976, making it 30 years old this spring. Courthouse employees cite numerous problems with the facility including: leaking roof, inconsistent heating and cooling system, no meeting rooms, too many people sharing office space, insufficient storage, parking lot issues on court days, rest- room issues, and windows that squeal when the wind blows. As the population of Meade County continues to grow, many of these problems will be further exacerbated. Other Kentucky counties also on the list for receiving a new courthouse under the 2006-2012 Capital Plan are: Allen, Anderson, Bath, Boyle, Bracken, Butler, Caldwell, Carlisle, Clinton, Crittenden, Estill, Graves, Greenup, Henry, Jessamine, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Powell, Scott, Spencer and Trimble. The Facilities Management System, located in Frankfort, ensures tax dollars are spent wisely by identifying the facilities with the greatest needs for new construction, renovation, expansion, and adaptation. The Kentucky Court of Justice determines its priorities for capital projects by putting existing facilities through an extensive evaluation, grading, and sorting process – focusing on courthouses and other spaces that serve as judicial facilities. All of Kentucky’s judicial facilities are assessed, with detailed assessments updated on at least a biennial basis to reflect current conditions and to evaluate the size, nature, capacity, and condition of the following: Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; safety and security; environmental concerns; foundations and structures; floors, walls, and ceilings; windows and doors; roofs, flashing, gutters, and downspouts; stairs and elevators; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; domestic water heating and distribution; electrical, telecommunications, and data systems; fire detection and suppression systems; site characteristics and size; adequacy of parking, pickup, and drop-off areas; access roads, entrance throats, and accessibility to roads and highways; walkways and sidewalks; interior and exterior signage; exterior security barriers and fencing; and utility services. The size requirement of each facility is determined by projecting the county’s judicial needs for the year 2020. This projection is based on the demographics of the county applied to historical judicial activity. Forecasted demographics, judicial activity data and future facility requirements are applied to specific criteria, which determine the required facility size. According to a source, Meade County’s new courthouse is slated to be in the budgeting process for 2008-2009. Details on the exact location of the courthouse won’t be available until sometime after that.
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Photo by Karen Kennedy