Yoder presents courts building plan update

An update regarding St. Joseph County’s plan to add a new courts building to the existing site was provided last week by county administrator Pat Yoder.
During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, Yoder said a review of the county’s finances is being conducted to determine a number of matters related to its plan to finance the project via the sale of bonds.
The review, Yoder said, is giving the county some projection such as what the cost will be, what its annual payments will be and what the current interest is in the market.
A few scenarios are being reviewed, Yoder said. One focuses on the courthouse project only. Another includes the courthouse and a proposal to expand the county jail and its kitchen, while a third analysis includes those proposals along with the animal-control facility.
Architect/engineer Tower Pinkster has been selected to handle planning the new courts building.