By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
It’s Adams County government’s problem, but Decatur’s government is willing to join an effort to find a favorable solution.
Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord remarked at Tuesday night’s city council meeting that the city is in talks with county officials concerning the Adams County Service Complex and its gymnasium.
“We’re working with the county, it’s in an infancy stage,” the mayor said, indicating that some financial institutions have been involved in some of the talks.
“A lot of questions are being asked (by the public) and there are a lot of comments out there,” City Attorney Anne Razo said.
“We want people to know that their concerns are being heard,” Rickord added. “Some things are in the works; we will update as we get more details.”
Adams County Commissioner Stan Stoppenhagen confirmed to WZBD.com Wednesday that talks with the city are ongoing.
“Oh yeh, for sure,” he said. “We’re looking at all our options. Our architect was in yesterday (Monday) and gave us some options. We’re getting together again next week to talk some more.”
Stoppenhagen said he had recently talked with Rickord “about putting together some sort of coalition. It’s best that we work together, that we have a small group working together.”
UNDER ONE ROOF: County officials have been looking for some time at the possibility of bringing several departments under one roof, the county-owned Service Complex.
Of particular note is the desire to bring much-needed security improvements to the superior court which is now located in the one-time library building north of the present library, on Third St.
As news has circulated about the talk of restructuring part of the Service Complex – which would likely mean the loss of its gymnasium – it’s become a hot topic of conversation throughout Adams County.
A county-hired architectural firm is working on plans that would affect the gymnasium.
Stoppenhagen told WZBD.com last month that the county commissioners would like to move superior court, Community Corrections (now situated a short distance north of Decatur) the probation department and the prosecutor’s office (both in the courthouse at this time) into the Service Complex.
“It would be more efficient and we would have better security; the old library building is not a place for the court.,” Stoppenhagen said.
That would require a major project. “And, unfortunately, we would have to take over the gym.,” he added.
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