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Court
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30 years, the' commission projected a population of 80,000 by the year 2020. That, the report said, would require a 90,000-square-foot courthouse with 210 parking spaces.
Looking at a two-phase project
The commission envisioned a courthouse that included space for chancery and circuit courts, bookkeeping departments plus judges’ chambers, court reporters’ offices, witness rooms, conference rooms, bailiff rooms and restrooms.
The report said at least two acres of land would be needed for a multilevel courthouse and at least five for a single-level building to accommodate the anticipated growth.
The earlier co(nmittee, which included the district attorney, chancery and circuit court judges, courthouse officials and private citizens, recommended buying about five acres in Bay St. Louis and building a two-story courthouse in two phases.
Cornelius Ladner, who also served on that committee, argued then that the county needed from 10 acres to 20 acres to accommodate future growth. On Tuesday, he said the
What happens next?
The Hancock County courthouse committee wilt meet at 6 p.m. June 23 at the courthouse, 150 Main St., Bay St. Louis.
Committee members: Cornelius Ladner, chairman;
Mike Necaise, secretary;
Kent Seilier Sr., Fred Peterman. Frank Lee, Jay Fountain, Herb Dubuisson,
Charles Garrison. D.W. North and Pam Lind.
county needed at least 40 acres.
Three years ago, the estimated cost of building a new, more centrally located courthouse was $8 million to $10 million.
"Are we going to be able to afford all this?" committee member Kent Seilier Sr. said.
'Just because we pick a site," Necaise said, "doesn’t mean the board will approve it or have the money to build it."
Nan Patton Erhbright can be reached at 467-6663.