Updating the Hall County Courthouse could carry a big price tag

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The Hall County Courthouse was back on the agenda for the commissioners meeting during Tuesday’s meeting, but this time they had cost information to go over.

The Hall County Board of Commissioners is now left with four options. The first of the four options starts at a low end of costs of just over $27 million, and could cost as much as $36 million when all is said and done. The most expensive option would be able to accommodate the county attorney’s offices, but that could cost anywhere from just under $57 million to over $75 million. Those figures are based off Davis Designs’ estimates.

Commissioner Scott Sorensen said he wants the board to make a decision sooner rather than later.

“I’ve got a call for action to our board to make some decisions in the next four weeks,” Commissioner Sorensen said. “Realistically if we are going to go with the stand-alone building for a courthouse that’s going to have to go to public ballot, vote of the people. It’d be a bond issue.”

After the board picks one of the four options, they can move towards asking the city for permission to vacate Pine Street, but Board Chairman Ron Peterson said there is another set of considerations to deal with.

“It appears that makes the most sense, one of the issues that we have to deal with is if we do some addition building on this side is we have to provide additional parking for all the people who will be utilizing the courthouse,” Chairman Peterson said. “That is a constraint that has been difficult as it sits right now.”

Sorensen said his fellow commissioners are clear on what should happen with the current Hall County Courthouse.

“I don’t believe anybody on this board wants that building to turn into another museum,” Commissioner Sorensen told Local4 News. “I do believe it is the intent of the board to utilize that building one way or another.”

Below is a list of what Davis Designs said they are working on putting in the new courthouse, and all four price estimations.

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