Pulaski County Officials Asked to Consider Building Lease As Facility, Financial Discussions Continue

As Pulaski County officials consider ways to address facilities needs while also stabilizing the county’s finances, questions are being raised about why one facilities option hasn’t gotten more attention. Last month, County Council Member Rudy DeSabatine said someone has offered to build a brand new building and rent it to the county for $20 per square foot per year, which could be much cheaper than the other ideas being considered.

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Pulaski County Council, Commissioners to Discuss Courthouse Issues in Special Joint Session Tonight

The future of the Pulaski County Courthouse will be discussed during a special joint county council and commissioners meeting tonight. The meeting notice says officials will discuss options to address needed repairs to the courthouse, potential renovations to the existing buildings, the relocation of county offices, and the various plans to address the concerns with the courthouse.

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Pulaski County CDC Director Calls for Change in Culture, during State of the Economy Address

Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer delivers the 2019 State of the County Economy Address.

Pulaski County is its own worst enemy. That was the theme of the State of the County Economy Address delivered by Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer Tuesday. “This speech is supposed to be about the state of the Pulaski County economy, but ultimately, our problems are not economic,” he said. “They’re not even just about our fiscal health. It is time to admit what I have long been loath to acknowledge. The underlying problem hurting Pulaski County is cultural.”

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‘Save the Pulaski County Courthouse Group’ Offers Safety, Security Recommendations

As Pulaski County officials consider long-term facilities plans, the Save the Courthouse group has come up with some recommendations to address safety and security concerns in the meantime. A list of two proposed solutions was presented to the county council Monday. One involves locking all the doors except for one set, and creating a single point of entry staffed by an officer.

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Indiana Landmarks, ‘Save the Courthouse’ Group to Look Into Ways to Preserve Historic Building

Save the Pulaski County Courthouse Group Member Michael Beach speaks with Pulaski County Commissioners Monday

The Save the Pulaski County Courthouse group is ready to get to work to find ways to meet the county government’s current needs without tearing down the historic building. That’s what group member Michael Beach told the county commissioners Monday. “We’re going to try to get a little bit more organized, have a little more meetings, and be a little more proactive,” he said, “but it’s not about just saying, ‘Don’t do it,’ and then we walk away. I think we can help.” Beach asked county officials to take time to do a fuller analysis before making any decisions.

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Pulaski County Commissioners to Hear from ‘Save the Courthouse’ Representative Tonight

The Pulaski County Commissioners will hear from a representative of the Save the Courthouse group tonight. The group formed after county officials unveiled a proposal last month to demolish the county’s 123-year-old courthouse and replace it with an addition to the Justice Center. At the time, Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston said the plan would address security and accessibility concerns, as well as a number of other issues, at about a third of the cost of renovating and expanding the existing courthouse.

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