Orange County NC Website
space. The rent is $104,000 a year, 48% of which is allocated to the Public Defender and 52°~ <br />of which is for the dental clinic. <br />Jahn Link said that the larger space allows more space for the Sheriff and the courts. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the Sheriff would not be adequately served in the 27,000 <br />square foot area. She said that she understood that the urgent need was the Sheriff and the <br />courtroom was not urgent. Ken Redfoot apologized if he gave the wrong impression. He said <br />that the courtrooms were bare minimum for what is required and needed now. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if they built the 38,000 square feet, would it fit the needs for ten <br />years and Pam Jones said that it would probably serve for 15 to 20 years. <br />Jamie Stanford, Clerk of Court, was introduced. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he visited the Sheriff last week and the Sheriff is totally <br />behind the larger footprint. He said that the Sheriff has worked for years in a sardine can and <br />now it is passible to put all of the Sheriff's duties under one roof. He thinks this is a frugal and <br />visionary opportunity to do something concrete. He regrets cutting corners at the F. Gordon <br />Battle Courtroom and not adding a second floor. He said that they should have put in the dental <br />clinic at the Southern Human Services Center and added more space there instead of spending <br />so much money on rent. He is supportive of the larger scheme. <br />Jamie Stanford pointed out that recently they lost the third floor courtroom to judges' offices, <br />and adding just one more courtroom brings them back up to where they used to be. He said that <br />they struggle each day to find enough court space for the many proceedings. He wants to make <br />sure they have enough. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if two courtrooms would be enough and Jamie Stanford said <br />that more courtrooms would be better, but two would do for now. There are enough proceedings <br />to fill the courtrooms. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she shares Commissioner Halkiotis' regret that they should <br />have built onto the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom when they had the chance. <br />Commissioner Foushee asked about the usage of the Chapel Hill courtroom and Jamie <br />Stanford said that the Chapel Hill courtroom is used every Tuesday and then for juvenile <br />delinquency and Department of Social Services neglect and abuse cases. It is probably used <br />four out of five days. They would continue to use it as long as Chapel Hill would allow them to <br />use it. Parking is a problem at the courthouse in Chapel Hill. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if one of the courtrooms could be a general purpose meeting <br />room and Ken Redfoot said yes. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested that, if the Board is in general agreement, that it ask Pam <br />Jones and Ken Redfoot to make a presentation to the Town of Hillsborough. He would like to <br />make Hillsborough feel like a partner in this project. He would like to suggest that in the Spring <br />for employees to begin phase out parking on East Margaret Lane and Cameron Street. He said <br />that County operations should not be perceived as an impediment for parking. <br />John Link recommended that if they go to Hillsborough, that Jamie Stanford, Judge Joe <br />Buckner, and the Sheriff try to go at the same time. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis supported what Commissioner Jacobs said about parking. He thinks <br />everyone needs to know that there is an issue with parking. He said that every County employee <br />needs to have a sticker on their vehicle with a designated parking lot number. He said that Pam <br />Jones suggested that they were going to look at First Baptist Church and try to reach an <br />agreement to use the parking lot far a park and ride lat. He said that they should take a bold <br />step and have designated parking for employees. He knows that employees park out front in the <br />15-minute spaces, and this needs to stop. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />direct the architect to proceed with the larger footprint (37,000 sq ft) for the Justice Facilities <br />Complex. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />