CONTACT:    Meghan Porter, Communications Manager, Board of County Commissioners Office, 360-490-0562 or Meghan.porter@co.thurston.wa.us  

   
OLYMPIA – A subcommittee of the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) held its fourth meeting today regarding the current project plan of renovating the Thurston County Courthouse Campus. The subcommittee discussed Chandler Court operational costs, financing for the project, and opportunities for current buildings. The subcommittee also held an executive session to discuss the purchase of a building; no action followed.

Staff provided an overview of the funding and staffing for Chandler Court court operations, which totals approximately $1.36 million and is paid for with ARPA funds. The subcommittee discussed the need to bring forward a recommendation to the full BoCC for the continued funding for Chandler Court, as the services will continue to be provided there until a solution for the courthouse is identified.

The subcommittee discussed the county’s financial position and the components specific to the ability to afford either additional lease payments or the ability to pay for needs with current capacity, as opposed to going to the voters for additional funding. Potential funding and project options reviewed included public/private partnerships, lease to own, purchasing and renovation of new buildings, renovation of current buildings and court space, and constructing new spaces.

The subcommittee directed staff to further explore a potential interim option to renovate buildings 1, 2, 3, and 5 on the current courthouse campus in order to vacate buildings 4, 6, and 7.

On Monday, July 29 the BoCC extended the work of the subcommittee through the end of August. The next subcommittee will be announced once it is scheduled. All meetings are open to the public and will be recorded by Zoom.  

To stay up-to-date on the Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings project, and view notes from prior subcommittee meetings, visit the project webpage at: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/courthouse-and-regional-administrative-buildings-project.

For more information, including to request recordings of subcommittee meetings, please contact Amy Davis, Clerk of the BoCC, 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.

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