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Tuesday, May. 06, 2008

Benton County commissioners vote to find architect for designs

By Franny White, Herald staff writer

PROSSER -- Benton County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to seek an architect to draw plans for a new county administrative building in Kennewick and to remodel the Prosser courthouse.

The Kennewick building would be placed adjacent to the Benton County Justice Center and consolidate county offices located elsewhere in Kennewick. Estimates the commissioners received indicated the building would cost $11.3 million, and adding a third floor to store records could add $1.4 million.

Commissioners also agreed to spend an estimated $3.8 million to add courtrooms at the courthouse so Prosser can remain the county seat.

The commissioners voted despite a recommendation from the League of Women Voters, which has said the county should not spend money to expand facilities in Kennewick or Prosser until legal issues surrounding the county seat are resolved.

Retired Benton-Franklin County Superior Court Judge Fred Staples has gathered more than 16,000 signatures on petitions calling for a vote to move the county seat to Kennewick. He argues the county is violating state law because it hasn't held Superior Court trials at the county seat in 25 years.

A state Supreme Court ruling requires at least some of a county's Superior Court cases be conducted in the county seat. State law also says the county sheriff and prosecutor should have offices at the county seat, but they are in Kennewick.

"We need to move forward with the administrative building and the campus of the (Benton County) Justice Center," said Commissioner Max Benitz Jr. "We need to move forward and remodel the courthouse here to look at the long term."

County Administrator David Sparks cautioned the project's cost likely would change after a design is finished. The county will put out a request for proposals from architects to design the administrative building.