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Second Phase Of Countys Law Enforcement CenterArchitect Ponders Court FacilityBy JEWEL SCOTTThe architect for the new Franklin County court building visited the County Commission Wednesday, but no decision was made about how he should proceed with plans.The commissioners will be at a meeting in Wichita Monday and they indicated they would meet with the architect, Wilbur Kruse, to discuss the final plans.A $322,028 federal grant will finance the construction of the court facility. When the grant was applied for about two years ago, it was planned that the building would house the Probate, County and Juvenile courts.Construction of the court facility would complete a two-phase law enforcement center. The first phase, expected to be completed by Dec. 13, will include jail facilities, offices and conference rooms for the Sheriff and Police departments and a combined communications system.The first phase construction, costing about $365,664.80, will be paid for with money from a one mill annual levy initiated in 1966. It will run until 1976.The tax was levied after inspections of the present jail showed it to be1 obsolete and inadequate. The fund was to be called the “courthouse and jail building fund.” Resources at the end of the 10 years were expected to be about $460,000.A special study committee, headed by J. R. Cheney, reported that federal funding might be obtained to make it possible to proceed with both phases of the project. A grant was applied for and received through the Governor’s Committee on Criminal Administration.Now that plans must be made for the courtroom, the question has arisen about whether a District Courtroom or provisions for the eventual addition of a District Court room should be included in the plans.In a letter to the County Commission Jan. 8,1971, District Court Judge Floyd Coffman reiterated the need for adequate jail and law enforcement offices. He said,“Probate, County and Juvenile Court offices are in three locations on two floors and with no courtroom. The District Court room is not adapted to adequate heating, cooling or acoustics within suitable limits. This is the only courtroom the Board has provided in the county wherein all courts nearly 2,000 cases are handled each year.“It is on a cold day often some 10 degrees cooler and on a hot summer day some 20 degrees hotter than the adjacent rooms in the building. The acoustics alone make it unsuitable for a modern courtroom.”Coffman went on to say that the most drastic need was for Probate, Juvenile and County court facilities. However, in a list of priorities he included facilities for a District Court, including a courtroom, chambers and offices for the Clerk of the District Court.The District Court room, built when the courthouse was constructed about 80 years ago,provides the only passageway between the east and west sides of the second floor. It is about 50 feet by 75 feet, and has a 20-foot ceiling. Noise from outside traffic and 19th century acoustical provisions even have caused visiting judges to point out the problems caused by the excessive noise.Coffman and the architect both have said they wre under the impression the original plans were for an unfinished basement to be built under the new court facilities. As money becomes available, the unfinished area conceivably could be finished for District Court facilities.Coffman predicts that within the next 15 to 20 years Franklin County could be divided into a two-division District Court. As one of die persons who urged the construction of facilities for the other courts, Coffman said he is in a “delicate position.” But as plans have developed he has become convinced it would be advisable to make arrangements for a new District Court.Kruse said, ‘If there’s any possibility of getting the District Court in the law enforcement center it would be a real asset.”He said, however, that he is in no position to recommend to the Commission what it should do. He can only build the best building he can with the plans and the money available.It isn’t too important what I think,” he added. “It all spells money.”He estimated that an additional $75,000 to $100,000 would be needed to provide a finished, top quality District Court on the upper floor of the new building.It would take a little less to soundproof and properly ventilate, cool, heat and filter the old courtroom, Kruse said. But he said he would advise against spending a lot of money on the old court.The commissioners have indicated money is not available now to provide a finished new District Court. During their discussions since claim forms for the grant arrived last week, the commissioners have indicated confusion about what originally was planned. And they have not decided whether to provide for the future expansion of the new building to include the District Court.Should the commission desire, Kansas Statues give it the authority to issue general obligation bonds against the remainder of the estimated revenue of the 10-year levy. Such a move, simply borrowing against future revenue of an already established levy, would provide funds immediately. As the taxes become available the money could be repaid.The possibility of issuing bonds has been discussed by the commission, but it has decidedagainst it.“I don’t think we would ever go for it,” George Atchison said. “I don’t think the public would go forit.”It seems the commission's greatest objection to such a move is that it would put the county in debt.INSPECT WORK Architect Wilbur Kruse and his mechanical engineer,Herbert Speyer (left) inspected the construction of the new Franklin County jail Wednesday. Kruse said the work was about 83 per cent finished and predicted a mid-December completion date. He said the work was being done well, and predicted the county would have a fine” building.OU Grad SavedFace For GOPBy LEROY TOWNS Kansas Correspondent Harris Enterprises TOPEKA—Glum Republicansstanding around a washed out election party in Topeka Tuesday night said there was a bright spot in all their misery.His name, often mentioned in the aftermath of Gov. Robert Docking’s sweeping victory over Morris Kay, is Dave Owen.The 34-year-old Owen was elected lieutenant governor Tuesday and already Republicans are beginning to groom him for a shot at the governor’s race in 1974.In that respect the defeatreputation for his work in the area of highways. He was instrumental in passage last session of a $320 million bond program for highway building.He is a Johnson County realtor and banker who minces no words about his desire to run for governor in 1974. When he announced last spring he carefully began building a statewide organization and said flatly he wanted it to be strong— something he could use later to run for governor.Owen defeated House Speaker Calvin Strowig handily in the primary. His race in the general election against George Hart wasDistrict Congressman Bill Roy and Atty. Gen. Vem Miller, Democrats who have swamped the GOP in two straight elections. The bar was doing a dizzy business.Docking’s landslide victorywas building to past the 200,000-vote mark, one of the largest in history. It was crowned by Miller’s own huge margin.'A it aIf A a* rv 4Topeka police patroled the streets outside the Democratic election headquarters. There wasn’t a parking place for blocks. Highway patrolman provided security from the mob for the winning Democratic candidates, turning away many who wanted
Newspaper Details
Ottawa Herald
Ottawa, Kansas, US
Thu, Nov 09, 1972
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Diana S.
KS, USA 12 Dec 2018
Other Publications Near Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa Campus
Ottawa Daily Republican
Ottawa Herald
