New courthouse approved
New courthouse approved
By STU MERRY
It’s “Yes.”
Voters in McLean County have said enough money has been poured into trying to salvage an aging courthouse. It’s time to look to the future and move ahead.
Tuesday, voters went to the poll to decide whether to give county officials the OK to proceed with building a new courthouse and to demolish the existing structure. With all 11 precincts reporting, voters, by a 2-1 margin, 2,558 to 1,328 (66-34 percent), approved construction of a new facility in Washburn. Results are unofficial until all ballots have been canvassed.
A simple majority was needed to pass the measure.
Speaking for the board, Commissioner Julie Hudson-Schenfisch reviewed what had come in. She said with more than 60 percent of the vote supporting a new courthouse (with 9 of 11 precincts reporting at that time), “it looks like the measure will pass,” she said.
Now work in earnest can begin. Commissioners held their regular meeting Wednesday morning. With the vote to proceed with construction, county officials will begin the task of putting in motion plans for a new courthouse. The structure will be built on courthouse grounds and be adjacent to the new McLean County Law Enforcement Center.
Construction could begin next spring and take about a year to complete.
