County eyes land for courthouse
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Santa Rosa County commissioners are moving closer to replacing the dilapidated courthouse in downtown Milton. Commissioners directed county staff to compile a list of probable building sites for a new judicial facility after hearing testimony and receiving a letter from Circuit Judge Ron Swanson. Circuit Judges Marci Goodman and Paul Rasmussen also contributed to the letter.

The three judges wrote a letter addressed to Commission Chairman Tom Stewart outlining several problems with the current building including overcrowded courtrooms, security concerns and insufficient workspace.

“Litigants, witnesses, defendants, jurors, court staff and the judiciary all use the same hallways to and from proceedings,” the letter states. “Dozens of shackled prisoners routinely move past the public and court personnel in non-secure access and transit points...Prisoners also use the same restroom facilities as do visitors and court personnel.”

Commissioners directed their staff to look at parcels of land at least 15 acres in size in the Milton area. Commissioners expect to review the list at their next committee meeting in January.

Commissioner Gordon Goodin believes placing the new facility close to the jail would save the county money by eliminating the need to transport prisoners.

“We have property next to our jail,” the commissioner said.

Board members seemed unsure as to how to pay for the replacement building. Commissioner John Broxson, whose district includes Gulf Breeze, suggested the board look into some type of bonding or debt financing agreement for construction funds.

“We’re looking at every possible avenue [for funding],” Broxson said. “We do not have the money to build a courthouse today.”

Swanson appeared before the board at their regular meeting Dec. 15 urging the board to expedite their decision.

“The immediacy of the need has out paced our ability to be extensively reflective,” he said.

The last effort to replace the facility was in 2002 when voters overwhelmingly voted down a sales tax referendum to fund the $40 million structure.