$328 Million to Replace moldy Broward county courthouse

[Guest guest]

When judges are at risk, then they do something about mold. As many of you

know, a judge died in 2006 another moldy courthouse in Florida. He worked in

the W. Dyer courthouse in Miami-Dade County.

Commission votes to replace most of main courthouse

Broward

to spend $328 million on a 17-story tower to replace its aging main

county courthouse, which has been plagued with malfunctioning

elevators, mold, leaky plumbing and a maxed-out electrical system.

By Wyman

South Florida Sun Sentinel

6:00 PM EDT, August 4, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - Broward commissioners on Tuesday decided to replace

the aging heart of the main county courthouse -- long plagued with

malfunctioning elevators, mold, leaky plumbing and a maxed-out

electrical system.

By a unanimous vote, the commissioners accepted the recommendation of a

task force that they tear down most of the existing building in central Fort

Lauderdale, and replace it with a 17-story tower.

Notably left undecided by the commission was how to pay for the

$328-million project in a time of economic troubles and plummeting tax

revenue.

" The building is literally falling apart around us, " Broward Chief

Judge Victor Tobin said. " The courthouse has long outlived its

usefulness. "

The plan is a scaled-down version of one Broward voters rejected in

2006. It likely would require elected officials to spend $133 million

in property taxes, either by asking voters to reconsider issuing bonds

or by using their own power to raise tax rates.

As commissioners were deliberating, yet another water leak was causing

problems at the courthouse. A group of county employees has filed suit

because of health problems they blame on mold that has invaded parts of

the building. Others wear face masks at their desk because of concerns

about air quality.

The commission approved spending $13.6 million to pay the architectural

firm Spillis Candela & Partners to design the new courthouse tower.

It also began a search to hire a firm to oversee construction.

A task force of judges, lawyers and elected officials recommended this

summer that the new tower be built on the parking lot next to the

current courthouse. Construction could begin as early as 2011, with the

main section of the existing building being demolished once work is

complete.

To pay for the project, the task force suggested the county use $60

million set aside for new courts as well as $60 million earmarked for

building a new jail. The county would also raise money through new

court fees on those convicted of crimes and from no longer needing to

rent offices for some court administrators.

The rest of the projected cost, about $133 million, likely would come from

property taxes.

Supporters of the courthouse construction argue the county can collect

the money without homeowners seeing an increase in their tax bills

because the county in the next couple years will pay off old debt for

library and park projects, thus ending the tax collections for those

building projects.

Commissioners on Tuesday held off on deciding any specifics on

financing. County planners said the nation's financial markets are too

volatile for a final decision on how to pay for construction, and they

said the cost could be lower than expected because of the possibility

of receiving aid from President Obama's economic stimulus program.

Commissioner Rodstrom questioned whether the board should take any

action to advance court plans without deciding on financing at the same

time.

He said the need for a new courthouse should be considered

alongside future jail requirements as well as the county's current

$109-million budget deficit.

" We all want a courthouse, but we have some pretty big loose ends before we move

forward, " Rodstrom said.

The cost of doing nothing is too great, supporters of the project

argued. The elevators are so old that replacement parts must be

specially made, and engineers do not believe the building could

withstand another hurricane.

" The cost of maintaining the current courthouse will be even a bigger

financial burden to the county than building a new courthouse, " said

Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, who headed the task force.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-broward-court-plans-0805\

09,0,2699791.story