JUDGES WANT A NEW ONE, ENGINEERS SAY STRUCTURE IS SOUND
What does the future hold for the historic Platte County Courthouse in Downtown Platte City?
It’s a topic that really wasn’t at the forefront for most Platte Countians. For the most part, the assumption that the courthouse–and all of its current functions– would continue to be a part of Downtown Platte City seemed a safe assumption to make.
All that changed earlier this year when it became public knowledge that many of the circuit court judges who work inside the building have the desire for a new county courthouse (also referred to by the judges as a “justice center”) to be built somewhere other than Downtown Platte City.
On May 1 of this year, Platte County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Fincham–on hand to speak about the current Platte County Jail–surprised some folks by urging the county commission to purchase enough land for a new courthouse in addition to a new jail.
Fincham said fellow Platte County Circuit Judge Ann Hansbrough had suggested the current county courthouse should be considered as a future juvenile justice center and the current jail should in the future be used as a juvenile detention facility.
“The current courthouse was built in 1866, the current jail was built in 1998,” Fincham said at that May meeting. “So the courthouse is 122 years older than the jail and we just need a new facility. There’s only so much square footage in the courthouse and there’s only so much space to have people in there.”
Fincham also said several of the offices in the courthouse have had problems with birds and bats in the building. Fincham further suggested commissioners take a look at Harrisonville, Mo. for a template of how to build a justice complex. While Cass County overbuilt at the time, he said they have grown into the complex and Platte County would do the same. Funded by a renewable sales tax, Fincham said he considers Cass County a good example of how to build a new facility.
The judges’ suggestion that a new Platte County Courthouse is needed, however, is getting some pushback.
A committee of county commissioners, judges, attorneys, and other users of the Platte County Courthouse met on Wednesday, Sept. 6 to hear a report from architects and engineers who have begun the process of developing a master plan for the historic courthouse in Downtown Platte City.
The reports do not paint a desperate picture of the current courthouse.
The engineers hired to evaluate the building and mechanical systems within the courthouse told the group that the structure was in sound condition. The original courthouse was built just after the Civil War. It went through a major renovation and expansion in the late 1970’s.
The engineers reported that the building can continue in the future to be used as a courthouse or for a like use. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure within the building is in good condition, according to the engineers.
The engineers noted several issues that need to be fixed. A fire safety and building codes expert reported on the generally good condition of the systems within the building.
“The historic Platte County Courthouse has served our community for many years,” commented Joe Vanover, second district county commissioner, this week. “I hope it will continue to be used as a courthouse for many years to come,” Vanover added.
Asked by The Landmark if he anticipates a push for a new courthouse to be put forward at the same time an expected proposal comes forward in regard to a new jail, Vanover replied: “There are multiple ideas floating around about the future of the courts and the detention center. The architects and engineers are working on a master plan for the courthouse. If the courthouse can continue to function as a courthouse, I want it to remain a courthouse.”
On Aug. 21, the Platte County Commission hired SFS Architects to create a master plan for the courthouse, which will include plans for an additional courtroom to be built in 2024, another courtroom to be built later, renovation of the secured main entrance, and various improvements to office spaces.
The cost for the master planning and assessment services is $67,000. The master planning process is expected to take approximately two months.
Vanover told The Landmark the cost of the two new courtrooms, renovation of the secured main entrance and various improvements to courthouse office spaces would be paid for with federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds received by the county. Platte County was awarded roughly $20 million in ARPA money, which federal officials described as the federal government’s plan to “provide direct relief to Americans, contain COVID-19 and rescue the economy.”
Platte County is also spending some ARPA money to relocate the sheriff’s department into the Platte County Resource Center; and to move the prosecutor’s office to the former sheriff’s office space.
Vanover is a practicing attorney in addition to being one of three elected county commissioners. The county commission serves as the owner and landlord of county government owned buildings.
“The renovations should help our courthouse to serve the next generation of litigants, lawyers, judges, and staff,” Vanover added.
Fincham and Hansbrough aren’t the only ones who have mentioned a desire for a new courthouse, but their remarks have been the most publicly known. Vanover said others inside the courthouse–and some on the outside–have also expressed a desire for a new courthouse to be built someplace other than Downtown Platte City.
The architects told the committee that there was enough space within the courthouse for the courts to expand since the prosecuting attorney’s staff on the third floor will be moving to another location soon. The architects told the committee that the baseline for a new courtroom was 1,000 square feet per courtroom. The third floor of the courthouse contains approximately 3,000 square feet. The architects have not completed their designs for which offices would be moved to accommodate the new Division VI courtroom or the plan for another courtroom to be built in the next few years.
The architects said minor adjustments and repairs would be needed in the building.
“With an old building, you need an accurate assessment before investing more money,” said Vanover. “The architects and engineers confirmed that the historic courthouse can remain as a courthouse for the next generation.”
Vanover noted that court operations have changed significantly since COVID-19 forced many hearings to be held by video conference.
Vanover added, “When litigants and attorneys ‘come’ to court by video conference, there are fewer people in the building. That means as the county grows we may not need as much court space as the previous generation would have required.”
Attending the Sept. 6 committee meeting were judges Ann Hansbrough, Quint Shafer, and Amy Ashelford, Platte County Sheriff’s Department Major Erik Holland, first assistant prosecuting attorney Mark Gibson, Platte County Public Administrator Shanna Burns, local attorney Jeremy Webb, Platte County Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker, Vanover, and several others.
Judge Fincham did not attend. He recently announced he will be retiring Dec. 31.
The next meeting about courthouse renovations is set for Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. in the county commission meeting room at the Platte County Administration Building in Platte City. The meeting is open to the public.
Separately, the county commission appointed a Committee for Public Safety to find and recommend viable solutions for inmate detention. A jail population consultant reported to the county commission in May that the jail was “maxed out.”
The Committee for Public Safety met on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at the Kansas City Police Department North Patrol Station and discussed the courthouse in addition to their mandate to study the jail issue. Multiple members of the Committee for Public Safety argued for the need to build a new courthouse, Vanover said.
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