What does it mean to have the proposed new Haywood County Justice Center built next to the existing county courthouse?

The county courthouse has been the focal point of Haywood County since 1810, and the present site has been in use since 1880 and located in our county seat of Waynesville. Like Raleigh’s and our nation’s capitol building in Washington, D.C., our county courthouse has historical meaning to our community. The present courthouse and its many activities are a central point in our community, and it has been an integral part of our community life since 1931. Relocating this historical facility would cause a total disconnect from our robust downtown businesses and community.

The courthouse and its numerous activities provide a nucleus of economic activity for our town and community. This is true for the people who conduct business in the courthouse and also for businesses in downtown Waynesville. If the justice center were located outside downtown Waynesville, court-related businesses such as law offices may relocate closer to the new site, thereby weakening the central business district. Downtown Waynesville has been reborn, making our town the envy of many small towns which are dying. Retail stores, restaurants, and businesses will suffer a drop-off in business if the courthouse is relocated. Removing the courthouse facilities and operations will weaken the bonds and sense of community fostered by the downtown location.

Our downtown sets a shining example for the rebirth of small towns in North Carolina. Citizens from towns throughout the South come to Waynesville to see how we did it. Eleven years ago we worked to revise downtown. Moving the courthouse out of downtown could kill the new life gained through struggle over the past 11 years. Our revived downtown is a huge source of revenue for the community and provides many jobs.

The proposed justice center is an investment in our future. It will provide much-needed courthouse space for our growing county and communities. It will enhance our current courthouse’s cultural and historical presence by making the justice center more of a focal point for our community. It will help the economic life of our community. We can continue to use the wonderful historical courtroom we presently enjoy.

The county has already invested in additional property in and around the courthouse during the past year to make this truly an outstanding area, one that we can all be proud of. There is additional property that can be added to the present complex to take care of our needs for the next 50 years. We have an opportunity to make this truly a county government center that can be the envy of people throughout our state. The task force, made up of numerous county citizens, strongly recommended the new justice center be located next to the courthouse.

The county completed a 20-year facility master plan in 1999, and county leaders should be congratulated on investing in this plan. It covered all activities of county government  sheriff, jail, court, social services, animal control, etc.

The county cannot meet its legal obligations without a new courthouse and jail. The courts can order the county to build a new courthouse. The projected cost of putting the new courthouse adjacent to the existing courthouse is $16.7 million. The projected cost of a parking structure for 391 cars is $3.5 million. Proposed services to remain downtown include a new courthouse (justice center), and county government and administrative offices. Proposed services to move from their existing downtown location are the jail, sheriff’s department and magistrate’s office, and the projected cost for this part of the project is $6.9 million.

The county government currently employs approximately 455 people, of which 187 are located downtown. This includes the sheriff’s office, the magistrate, and the jail. The projected 2020 employee count indicates only a half dozen more employees would be officed downtown after moving the sheriff, magistrate and jail. There will be no problem with congestion, courthouse functions (judges, offices, etc.) and government administration. It’s absurd to say that downtown traffic is the same in January as in July, but these are the type of irresponsible statements being made.

There is a legal requirement that the courthouse must be in the county seat, thus it must be in Waynesville’s corporate limits.

Everyone seems to agree that the existing courthouse should be preserved and renovated and kept as a working courthouse. We still would have the costs of renovation even if we built a new courthouse outside of downtown. Henderson and Jackson counties have built new courthouses and nothing has been done with their existing historic courthouses. Our courthouse is a structure of pride - let’s keep it vital.

No one has produced any reliable figures regarding building a new justice center outside of downtown. We live in the mountains, and flat land is at a premium and should be used for agriculture. The suggested site at Howell Mill Road, touted by one county commissioner, did not consider excavation costs, road widening costs, purchase of land, signalization, drainage, sewer, and water, etc.

It is questionable whether a large site that could provide enough flat land for parking and a courthouse can be found in Waynesville short of taking valuable farm land. Therefore, any proposed courthouse structure would involve more than one floor, as would the Howell Mill Road site. Where are the savings? Where are the reliable figures that show such a large savings?

If moving the justice center is a no brainer, where are the facts and figures based on a reliable site? None were provided for the Howell Mill site. As a concerned citizen, I want to see the facts before making a decision. I want decisions made by more reasoned judgments rather than hearsay, innuendoes or outright misrepresentations.

Furthermore, property taxes will not increase. The center could be financed by general obligation bonds, certificate of participation or sales tax. False and misleading statements are being made. Let the truth be known.

Additionally the absence of convenient food service, daycare, retail space, legal support and other services will adversely affect both staff and the public. Presently it’s a simple walk across the street. Much has been said of the proposed parking garage, and we could save money by moving outside of town where a garage would not be necessary. Do we need another large exposure of asphalt to create more problems with drainage to streams? Haywood Waterways Association is trying to address the problems created by trying to make mountains and hills flat to accommodate cars. We live in the mountains, and flat land is a premium which should be protected for farming. Those touting the Howell Mill Road site have not even considered the costs of excavation, drainage systems, etc., and the cost of additional land. It would require widening of one road and new signals. All of these are in place in downtown Waynesville. County commissioners have already voted unanimously to purchase property around the existing courthouse. The county owns the necessary property. Any serious consideration of another site would require the purchase of substantial property.

We have a community that most everyone is very proud of, a community that is vibrant and active, a real functioning town like towns used to be. This is one of our real assets, so let us make it better by adding to it and making it even better.

Mark B. Clasby
Waynesville

 

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