DONE DEAL: Long-awaited justice center to be built in Warren County

SIMPSON. WARREN COUNTY SUPERVISORS APPROVED NEW PLANS TO BUILD A JUSTICE CENTER IN INDIANOLA TO REPLACE THE WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE THAT WAS TORN DOWN IN 2018. KCCI’S MARCUS MCINTOSH SHOWS HOW THIS NEW PLAN CUTS COSTS A , PROBLEM THAT DOOMED EARLIER PROPOSALS. MARCUS: BEHIND THESE DOORS THURSDAY MORNING THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MADE A DECISION THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ON BOARD WITH. [APPLAUSE] >> WE FINALLY APPROVED A JUSTICE CENTER TO GO BACK ON THE COURTHOUSE AND SQUARE. MARCUS THIS AFTER THE MISSTEPS : OF 2018 WHEN VOTERS PASSED A , BOND REFERENDUM TO FUND A NEW JUSTICE CENTER, ONLY TO GET BIDS FOR WORK THAT PUT THAT PROJECT OVER BUDGET AND OUT OF REACH. OVERSIGHT THAT IS NOT EXPECTED THIS TIME AROUND, BECAUSE THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO GET MULTIPLE BIDS FOR WORK THAT DROVE DOWN THE LOW BID. MORE GOOD NEWS FOR THE PROJECT IS INTEREST RATES HAVE FALLEN. ,>> I THINK IT COULD GO DOWN EVEN FURTHER. MARCUS: THE DESIGN FROM 2018 PLANS BASICALLY REMAINS THE SAME SAVE FOR TWEAKS TO THE OUTSIDE , DESIGN AND USING MORE REASONABLE MATERIAL INSIDE PUSHING THE OVERALL PRICE DOWN. SUPERVISORS AND RESIDENTS AT THE MORNING MEETING ARE CONFIDENT THE JUSTICE CENTER THAT WILL HOUSE 88 JAIL BEDS AND FOR COURTHOUSES -- AND R CORPR -- AND FOUR COURTHOUSES IS NOW FULL STEAM AHEAD. >> IN EXCITED THAT THE JUSTICE ENTERS GOING FORWARD. I’M TIRED OF THE HOLE IN >> THE MIDDLE OF THE SQUARE. >>I THINK IT IS TIME TO MOVE AHEAD. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROPOSAL, AS YOU SAID IT UP, LOOKS QUITE GOOD. MARCUS MOST RESIDENTS CANT WAIT : TO SEE THIS REPLACED BY THIS. IN INDIANOLA, MARCUS MCINT

Warren County supervisors have finally approved plans for a long-awaited justice center to be built in Indianola.The new justice center would replace the old Warren County Courthouse, which was torn down last year.Voters approved spending $30 million on a new facility, but the bids for the project came in way over that budget.Voters then rejected a funding referendum, forcing supervisors to go back to the drawing board.In a packed public hearing at the Warren County Administration Building, supervisors approved a budget of nearly $35 million to build the new facility. The extra costs over the publicly approved $30 million will be paid for through finance bonds over 20 years.The facility will be built on the same location and house the County Attorney, Sheriff’s Office, dispatch, four courtrooms and an 88-bed jail.Officials hope to break ground this spring and expect it to open 20 months later.Tonight on KCCI 8 News at 5 and 6, Marcus McIntosh will tell you how the county was able to reduce costs and why supervisors say it will be less expensive to repay the finance bonds.Supervisors react to Warren County courthouse referendum being rejected

INDIANOLA, Iowa —

Warren County supervisors have finally approved plans for a long-awaited justice center to be built in Indianola.

The new justice center would replace the old Warren County Courthouse, which was torn down last year.

Voters approved spending $30 million on a new facility, but the bids for the project came in way over that budget.

Voters then rejected a funding referendum, forcing supervisors to go back to the drawing board.

In a packed public hearing at the Warren County Administration Building, supervisors approved a budget of nearly $35 million to build the new facility.

The extra costs over the publicly approved $30 million will be paid for through finance bonds over 20 years.

The facility will be built on the same location and house the County Attorney, Sheriff’s Office, dispatch, four courtrooms and an 88-bed jail.

Officials hope to break ground this spring and expect it to open 20 months later.

Tonight on KCCI 8 News at 5 and 6, Marcus McIntosh will tell you how the county was able to reduce costs and why supervisors say it will be less expensive to repay the finance bonds.

Supervisors react to Warren County courthouse referendum being rejected

DONE DEAL: Long-awaited justice center to be built in Warren County

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