COMMENTARY: Justice building expansion deserves support

In 2000, just under 109,000 people called Kootenai County home. Eight total judges served the county’s courts, including one whose position was created just two years before. A building addition including a courtroom and chambers ensured the new judge and staff had room not just to be present, but to perform their public service well. Today, 22 years later, Kootenai County is close to crossing 180,000 residents. The county now relies on 17 judges — four district judges and nine magistrate judges based here, aided by four other judges who travel from elsewhere. But aside from two courtrooms gained through buying the former federal court building in 2009, the space provided for Kootenai County’s courts remains the same. We have an opportunity to change this. ARPA funding can allow the county to expand the Justice Building, adding three larger jury courtrooms, space for judges, staff, clerks, the prosecutor’s office, security, and room for in-custody defendants and transportation from the sheriff’s office.

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Kootenai County commissioners voted Monday to choose a contractor to provide construction management services for a planned $22 million addition to the Justice Building located on the county’s main campus in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Commissioners Leslie Duncan and Chris Fillios voted to award the construction management contract to Spokane-based Bouten Construction, while Commissioner Bill Brooks abstained from the vote. The county will enter price negotiations with Bouten Construction for the project management services.

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workshop gets heated

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