OLYMPIA – A subcommittee of the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) held its first of four weekly meetings today and directed staff to explore additional options for space and facility needs that may differ from the current project plan of renovating the Thurston County Courthouse Campus.

The BoCC voted on June 17 to suspend ongoing construction or renovation at the courthouse campus for 30 days and to form a subcommittee to research options to address building and space needs. The scope of renovations currently planned for the site would not address the long-term needs of the county. The subcommittee consists of Commissioners Wayne Fournier, Carolina Mejia and Emily Clouse. Commissioner Fournier was selected as chair. It will make recommendations to the full board after the 30 day research period. To date, no decisions have been made regarding site selection or constructing a new courthouse.

At today’s meeting, the subcommittee directed county staff to:

• Research and present information on potential methods of funding projects to provide more space and address physical issues at the current buildings. 
• Research and present information on what it would take to keep the current courthouse campus buildings useable for the next several years as the county plans out a more long-term solution.

The courthouse campus houses Thurston County’s District Court and Superior Court, as well as several other county departments and offices. It was built in the 1970s, when Thurston County’s population was about half its current size. As the county has grown, those courts, offices and departments have outgrown the current space available. The campus is more than 15 years past its life expectancy. 

The subcommittee will meet weekly for the next three weeks, with its next meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 5 at the Atrium, 3000 Pacific, Olympia. All meetings are open to the public and will be recorded by Zoom. 

For more information, including to request recordings of subcommittee meetings, please contact Amy Davis, Clerk of the Board, at amy.davis@co.thurston.wa.us. To view the Board’s meeting schedule and agendas, visit: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/meetings-public-hearings-and-work-session-agendas