By Leeann Tanner - Staff Writer
May 16, 2008 12:06 pm
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Rowan County Judge-executive Jim Nickell stood before city council on Monday to get approval to move Norman Wells Lane in preparation for the new Judicial Center.
Currently, Norman Wells runs on an angle from West Main to West First Street. “We asked to square it up,” Nickell told The Morehead News. “It will make the lots more uniform and allow for more green space and parking at the Judicial Center and the future County Building.”
Morehead City Council members approved the judge’s request. In June, Nickell, Architects Sherman, Carter, and Barnhart and the Project Development Board will meet with the Administrative Office of the Courts for final approval of the project.
“Eventually, with the Judicial Center and then the county offices across the street, we’ll have a government square that everyone can be proud of,” Nickell said. “The total plan gives the county four and a half acres to have room to expand in the future and serve the area adequately for 50 or 60 years to come.”
The Judicial Center will house courtrooms and offices. The 39,000+ square foot facility has a $13 million proposed budget. If the proposal receives AOC approval in June, construction will begin in 2010.
The former Cowden Manufacturing building, which is owned by Morehead State University and used as Support Services offices, sits on the future site of the Judicial Center. In an agreement between the two entities, the county will take control of the Cowden building and once the Judicial Center has been completed, MSU will take over their old offices.
Before construction on the Center begins, the Cowden building will be demolished and Norman Wells Lane will be shifted. Fred White currently owns the vacant lot across the street, where Nickell hopes to build the county offices building. “Without the cooperation of MSU and Mr. White, none of this will be possible,” Nickell said. “But when it’s all said and done, we will have beautiful facilities that will make things more convenient for the people of this area.”
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