What would Conner say . . .
The County Line
Should the historic Hamilton County Courthouse be given over to provide a home for non-profit community service organizations? It’s a proposal, perhaps a trial balloon, being floated by some county officials.
With next year’s expansion of the County Government and Judicial Center, the idea is to move offices of the county auditor, treasurer, assessor and recorder from the old courthouse to the judicial center. This would get all county government under one roof, making it easier for the public to get from one needed service to another, according to those who favor the move.
The courthouse might then be used for community service groups. It could possibly accommodate offices for six or eight organizations. Some of these groups such as Prevail, Senior Citizens or Meals on Wheels, currently in scattered locations, might like the idea. Other non-profits such as Janus, Red Cross and HAND have their own sizable facilities and probably would not be interested.
For those who might not favor the move of county offices, there is the fact that in the 1990s county government spent several million dollars restoring the courthouse and making arrangements for specific office needs in certain locations in the building. To provide access to the judicial center, a tunnel was built connecting the old and new structures.
And, there is this to consider: the Courthouse property was given to the county in 1823 by William Conner with the provision that it be used for the seat of county government. While officials might be able to claim that maintaining ownership of the site meets Conner’s intent, certainly the spirit of the original donation would be in question if all county offices left the building.
Most of Indiana’s older courthouses are still in use for county offices and courts. Others, including the Vanderburgh County Courthouse at Evansville is preserved and used as an event center where business meetings, weddings and ballroom dances are held. It is operated by the Old Courthouse Preservation Society. At Crown Point, the former Lake County Courthouse is a county museum with shops in the lower level.
It appears a debate on the future of our courthouse may arise in the coming year. It’s one of those local issues that is worth keeping an eye on. And, the public should not be timid about expressing opinions because the courthouse belongs to all the people of Hamilton County.