Kentucky

From WSAZ3, Huntington, WV.  One comment stated 'why is pike county using the same construction manager (Codell const) that built the last courthouse in 96? if the work was so bad then why are they spending taxpayer dollars for the same lousy craftsmanship?"

Construction Underway on New Pike County Justice Center



PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WSAZ) -- With most public budgets as tight as a drum these days, taxpayers demand that every dime be wisely spent.

And while many admit building one new county justice center is throwing good money after bad, WSAZ.com found most agree that the good is very good and the bad, is shabby and sad.

The golden shovel is just a formality. They?re way past groundbreaking for the new Pike County Judicial Center.

But Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford is big on ceremony, and says the day the $30 million courthouse replaces a 21-year-old hall of justice can't come soon enough.

"So the people can use it, this will be a justice center for the next 100 years," Rutherford said.

But, with a new front facade, the old Hall of Justice still looks more than adequate -- from the outside.

Rutherford says when they cut the budget for the old building from $17 to $15 million, the builders cut a lot of corners as well. That included many undersized rooms.

Circuit Court Clerk David Deskins says his staff's packed workplace ranks as the tightest clerk's office in Kentucky.

"Every inch of space is used to its ultimate," Deskins said.

The chief district judge says the old building is riddled with cracks and leaks, has horrible heating and cooling, and just one set of severely security lax elevators. They force judges, inmates and jurors to share the ride.

"It?s security," Judge Darrel Mullins said. "You have to ride the elevator with the people who will appear in front of you."

Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton says this new state-of-the-art courthouse offers the best bang for the public buck.

"Right now, there's not a better rate for public projects, so it makes great financial sense," Minton said.

Rutherford says the new judicial center should open in about a year and a half. The old Hall of Justice will still house the Pike County Jail.