On new Lincoln County courthouse, one choice is clear

Guest column by Jim Schmidt

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, after years of study, is poised to select one of two options to address the critical need for additional courtroom space. After careful analysis and input from the court system, the Tegra Group from Minneapolis and a citizen advisory committee, two options were found, with a greenfield site being the most advantageous.

While considering these options, the county has reached a crisis point. The pressures on the current courtrooms continue to increase. Our present plan of using the commission chambers and multipurpose meeting room will only last so long. The Commission must choose, or the court system has made it clear that they will use the “nuclear option” of securing the courthouse to meet their need. The time is now to solve this problem before crisis turns to catastrophe.

The greenfield site option was unanimously supported by the Citizens Courthouse Advisory Committee and the city of Canton’s mayor and council; it promotes economic development, allows for future growth, addresses the lack of parking and can allow for an addition of a Justice Center to meet prisoner housing needs, all while keeping the old courthouse for what usage remains. 

VIEWPOINT: Buy local: The Matrix