Pulaski County Council to Continue Discussing Courthouse Renovation Tonight

The proposed renovation of the Pulaski County Courthouse and expansion of the Justice Center will continue to be discussed during tonight’s county council meeting. The estimated $7.7 million project would add a security checkpoint to the north entrance of the courthouse, while Circuit Court would move out of the building and into an expanded Justice Center.

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Temporary Checkpoint Prompts Pulaski County Officials to Renew Calls for Permanent Courthouse Security

A temporary security checkpoint at the Pulaski County Courthouse last week has led county officials to once again call for a permanent solution. A special judge for a jury trial required that all visitors be scanned with metal detectors as they entered the building. Clerk JoLynn Behny pleaded with the county commissioners Tuesday to put security in place on a permanent basis, saying that county employees felt safe.

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Pulaski County Officials Consider Architect, Financial Advisor, Bond Counsel for Courthouse Project

Pulaski County officials are planning their next steps, when it comes to the renovation of the courthouse and expansion of the Justice Center. During a joint session with the county council Monday, the commissioners agreed to ask Rowland Design for a quote for final design work, since the company already did the preliminary plans.

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Rep. Gutwein Introduces Bill to Help Fund Pulaski County Courthouse Renovations

Now that the Pulaski County Commissioners have recommended a path forward for courthouse renovations, discussions about how to fund it will begin in the county council and the Indiana General Assembly. State Representative Doug Gutwein has introduced legislation that would allow a special income tax that’s currently in place to pay for the Justice Center to be extended until 2036 to fund courthouse renovations.

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Pulaski County Council to Reorganize, Consider Budget Transfers Tonight

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The Pulaski County Council will reorganize for 2020 when members meet tonight. In addition to choosing a president and vice-president, council members will also appoint a representative to the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission.

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Pulaski County Sheriff Again Urges Officials to Keep Work Release Center in Facilities Plans

Now that the Pulaski County Commissioners have chosen a path for a potential courthouse renovation, Sheriff Jeff Richwine is renewing calls for a dedicated work release facility. He told the county council last week that while there are no easy answers for preventing drug addiction, additional programs could help treat the problem that already exists.

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Pulaski Council Approves Additional Appropriation for Courthouse Elevator Project

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The Pulaski County Council has given its permission to pay the final bills from the courthouse elevator replacement, more than a year after the work was completed. The county council voted five-to-one last week to finalize a series of additional appropriations. That included almost $57,000 for the elevator work.

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Pulaski County Council and Commissioners to Discuss Courthouse, Income Tax Configuration

The Pulaski County Courthouse will be discussed during tonight’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Architects have presented a few different options for renovating this historic courthouse and possibly adding onto the Justice Center, ranging from almost $4.9 to almost $8.6 million. County officials have also been presented with various proposals for issuing bonds to pay for the work.

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