$19 million plan for Turner County Courthouse

PARKER, S.D. (KELO) —  A leaky roof, sinking trusses and a lack of accessibility are just a few of the issues at the Turner County Courthouse . Now, it’s up to the county commission to decide whether to renovate the historic building or replace it.

Architects estimate a new courthouse would cost $19.8 million.

“When we move forward in new construction, we know we can meet expectations and design to a budget and we can control the outcome,” Journey Construction President Tony Wiseman said at a county commission meeting Tuesday.

Architects estimate that a new building would be about 25,000 square feet, about 500 feet smaller than the current building. A location for a new building has not yet been determined. If the county commission chooses to build new, architects said preserving some of the original building could be done.

“Within this space, there’s a lot of wasted space. There’s rooms that are too large, some that are too small for what they need,” ISG Project Manager Eric Eigenberg said.

Another option is to keep the current building and renovate it. It’s estimated that renovating the courthouse would cost around 30% more than rebuilding it. A report also finds an additional $130,000 would be needed to figure out the current structural issues before any renovations could begin.

“The cost to renovate this building, that could be a very big issue, basically. The report said the systems need to be replaced. Most are at the end of its useful life or right next to it,” Tegra Partner Dick Strassburg said.

Some staff members already have concerns about staying in the current building.

“I’m here number one to thank you, but also to tell you that I’m moving my employees out sooner rather than later. We’re going to start doing it now because frankly, I just cannot continue to have the remaining five employees here on a regular basis,” Presiding Circuit Judge Cheryle Gering said.

Possible relocation costs during construction could hit $250,000.

No final decision on whether the courthouse will be renovated or rebuilt was made Tuesday.

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