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The cost for construction and acquisition of the land for the courthouse would be $11.3 million.
The facility and security committee was formed in response to a recommendation of the North Carolina Rural Courts Commission (NCRCC) in its report after the commission visited the Northampton County Courthouse in February 2008.
Kwasikpui said the NCRCC under the authority of the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court visits rural courthouses on a scheduled, rotating basis. The purpose of the meeting concerned the functionality of the facilities, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, technology issues and other needs including security issues.
The NCRCC made a number of recommendations concerning the courthouse and recommended a committee be formed to address the short and long-term needs of the courthouse including the need for a new courthouse.
Since August 2008, the facility and security committee has been meeting on a monthly basis. “We have accomplished much since August 2008,” Kwasikpui said.
Some changes have included installing panic buttons in some locations, juvenile probation no longer meets after hours, secured electrical panels and having the roof replaced as a current line item in the budget.
Dan Mace, of Moseley Architects, talked about the Northampton Courthouse needs assessment and feasibility study report completed by the firm. “The 21st century justice system is different from a courthouse built 150 years ago,” he said. Mace added historic courthouses cannot typically conform to current standards.
The report findings showed without major renovation and expansion, the courthouse can no longer function adequately, safely or securely as a court facility to meet current and growing space demands for all its user.
He noted Northampton County court caseload has grown significantly in the last two years despite a slight decline in county population.
The courthouse does not comply with the American with Disabilities requirements, lacks basic security features required in modern courthouses and poses other health and safety risks to staff and the public.
“The current courthouse and annexes are less than half the size required to house all occupants presently,” Mace said.
The space needed now for all courthouse occupants including the tax assessor and register of deeds is 62,116 square feet, while the current space occupied is less than 30,000 square feet.
“In the next 20 years, the projected need is 70,923 square feet,” he said.
Mace presented three options with cost estimations.
First, renovate the existing courthouse for court use and relocate identified non-court county functions to leased space to create additional court related spaces. Cost is $3.5 million with a $126,225 per year for leased space for the tax, register of deeds and guardian ad litem offices.
Second, build a new courthouse at the existing site and renovate historic courthouse for county purpose re-use. Demolish the vacated finance building to provide parking. The cost would be $9.8 million.
Third, build a new courthouse complex at an alternate site and build a new jail and law enforcement center in the future. Renovate historic courthouse for county and civic use in the future, once funds and specific use are identified. The cost would be $11.3 million.
County Attorney Charles J. Vaughan asked if the county is losing population, what would the population be in five years.
Mace said he couldn’t answer the question, but the decrease was a slow one.
Commissioner Chester Deloatch asked if a new courthouse was built, how far away would it be from the current one.
Mace said the county would try to keep it as close to the current one as possible.
It is likely the courthouse will be one of many issues discussed by county commissioners at their retreat on Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will take place at Vaughan’s home in Littleton.
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