Some Dekalb Citizens Petitioning Against Plans For New Justice Center
Some Dekalb County residents have put together a petition to prevent the construction of a new justice center in Smithville. The Dekalb County Commission is considering several pieces of land for such a facility. One is a 38-acre lot currently used for agriculture. Petitioner Terry Mahle said the property should be left available for private […]
Putnam Begins Budget Process With Likely Need For Revenue
Putnam County Commissioners will start to piece together a budget this week as they begin meetings with department heads about what the needs are. Commission Chair Ben Rodgers said they will start with the sheriffs department which could be ready to open the justice center expansion by the end of the new fiscal year. “We’re […]
Putnam Doing What It Can To Help Business Owners Facing Parking Issues Near Justice Center
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the county is doing its best to mitigate parking issues with businesses near the Justice Center. Porter said the county’s two parking lots down the road for court parking have not been used as anticipated. Instead, people are parking at private businesses across the street. “We’re working with those […]
Putnam Justice Center Project Impacting Parking For Local Businesses
The Putnam County Justice Center addition project causing parking issues for some neighboring business owners. Mike Reel of Olympic Investment Group co-owns Liberty Square across the street that has some 20 businesses inside. Reel said the closure of the Justice Center ‘s main parking lot has worsened a long-term parking issue. “The days that they […]
Putnam County Justice Center To Open Some Of Remaining Project Bids
Bid proposals on some 10 projects for the new Putnam County Justice Center will close Tuesday evening. Sheriff Eddie Farris said the projects range from masonry to painting. He said these bids were some of the last to issue for the Justice Center. “Really the only thing that jumps out to me that is left […]
Locust Ave. Properties Being Cleared For Putnam Jail Expansion
Demolition has begun in preparation to break ground on the Putnam County Jail expansion. The county commission purchased six parcels around the Justice Center last year for parking. Sheriff Eddie Farris said the two properties on Locust Avenue are being cleared. “They started last Friday and they should be finished with the cleanup this Thursday […]
Commissioner Wants Justice Center Parking Relief Offsite
A Putnam County Commissioner has an idea on how to relieve parking issues at the Justice Center by moving some vehicles off site. Commissioner Jonathan Williams said he recommends building a protected car lot to store the vehicles. Currently, he said about a quarter of the lower parking lot appears to be used for vehicles […]
Commissioners Ask Justice Center Parking Questions
After some 90 minutes of questions from Putnam County Commissioners at a Monday Night work session, the board will once again consider the purchase of two pieces of land near the county justice center next week. The board voted against the purchase last month, effectively ending the plan to expand the jail and court room […]
Porter On Jail Expansion: Something Has To Give
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said he and Sheriff Eddie Farris have spent the past three days trying to regroup on the Justice Center and Jail expansion. “We’re looking at possibly the options that that we have on those other two pieces of property and then the sixth parcel of property that we talked about,” […]
Current Economics Swayed One Putnam Commissioner
One Putnam County Commissioner who voted against every purchase of land around the Justice Center Monday night said the current economic situation made the decision for her. District Four Representative Theresa Tayes said investing money right now did not make sense. “We’re in trying times right now,” Tayes said. “We need to think about the […]
