Courthouse restoration: the sequel?
Following on the heels of the successful renovation of the Flathead County Courthouse, the county now has plans to refurbish the old jail, a companion building just south of the courthouse.
The idea to breathe new life into the 110-year-old jail facility was County Administrator Mike Pence’s brainchild as he mulled ways the county could convert existing space to the highest and best use. For decades the old jail has been utilized for storage and a catch-all for discarded county equipment. Portions of the building are empty.
Faced with overcrowding in the Clerk of District Court, County Attorney and Justice Court offices in the adjacent Justice Center, Pence proposed fixing up the jail space and relocating the County Attorney offices there. With four stories of usable space, there’s ample room, even for future expansion.
The proposal quickly gathered steam as the county commissioners and heads of the other offices nodded in approval. By renovating existing space and not having to physically expand the Justice Center the county stands to save $4 million.
Pence’s idea makes good sense, not only financially but also from a historical perspective.
The courthouse and jail were constructed in 1903 in similar style and showcased the architectural grandeur of their day. They continue to stand out as historical landmarks in Kalispell. Most people would agree the $2.6 million spent to restore the courthouse to its original beauty was money well spent. County residents are once again proud of their courthouse, and they should be.
Turning the old jail into modern office space may be a natural sequel to the courthouse project.
Restoration of the old jail is just one of many capital improvement projects in the works as the commissioners look at ways to accommodate county growth. How to proceed with a new facility for the Flathead County Aging on Aging program is still being determined, but we now know the project has been earmarked for $2 million for the 2015 fiscal year.
We also know the county is on track to buy the former State Farm Insurance building south of the courthouse for future expansion of the county campus. But given the previous indecision by the commissioners about how to proceed with providing adequate space for the Agency on Aging, one can’t assume it will end up south of the courthouse.
More immediate improvement projects for the county this year include the addition of shop space at the Parks and Recreation Department and upgrades to the detention center and fairgrounds.
Finding the resources and figuring out an overall game plan of how to accommodate growth is a tall task for the county. Restoring the old jail would make a good start on these needs for more space. But don’t forget about our seniors. We encourage the commissioners to keep the Agency on Aging project on the front burner.
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Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.