Floorplans for either a renovation and construction of an annex to the existing county courthouse, an entirely new government center at an unspecified location, or creating one in the former OES 3-5 Center were presented Thursday before the Gasconade County Commission.

GERALD EBKER, a member of the citizens committee charged with developing a list of options for either refurbishing the current courthouse, or building a new government center, shows a drawing Thursday to county commissioners during their meeting at Owensville City Hall. The drawing reflects an architect’s rendering of a an annex to the existing Gasconade County courthouse. Two other option were also presented. Photographs of all three options and the committee’s complete report appears on this web site.

The price tag: $6 million all the way up to $14 million depending on which one voters ultimately select.

“We believe we have three solid designs for it,” said Gerald Ebker, a member of the Gasconade County Courthouse Analysis Committee in the group’s presentation to the full commission meeting in Owensville. “The three options we discussed in Phase I are a credit to the citizens of Gasconade County.”

Committee member John Bartle noted the figures presented were “current day costs estimates.” Each of the three design options included construction contingencies. Ebker, answering a question from the public, added, “I think with the costing estimates we’ve done a pretty good job.”

Architectural drawings of each of the proposals, along with the committee’s complete report, are found on page 8 for additional reference. 

Owensville’s Chamber of Commerce is circulating a petition requesting a November 2008 General Election vote on the question should the county seat be moved to Owensville. Contracted petition circulators are currently collecting signatures. No matter where the government center is located, county residents will eventually face another ballot question to determine public funding for either the renovation of the courthouse or the OES 3-5 Center, or building a new center.

Steve Mueller, also on the committee, said afterward, “I just want to see it on the ballot.”

A group in Hermann, the Gasconade County Courthouse Society, is actively working to keep the courthouse in its present location. The registered 501c3 non-profit group, formed March 31, has a purchase contract on two lots on either side of the existing courthouse and is also working on private financing to help offset the cost of the estimated $14 million renovation and construction of an annex.

“At this time it’s not a public record on whose going to help finance it,” said Debbie Weingarth, a Swiss area resident and chair of the society. “We’re making sure we have our ducks in a row. Our whole purpose is to preserve, enhance and protect that beautiful courthouse.”

The proposal to build a “U”-shaped annex around the existing courthouse would require the purchase of two lots on either side. A bluff in front would be carved off and entrances to the annex would be at street level. A road would come in from the east side, go behind the existing building, and exit back onto Highway 100 on the west side.

Weingarth said the Courthouse Society has proposed closing dates on the two lots directly adjacent east and west of the courthouse. “We have private backing but that person did not want to go public yet,” she said.

Commenting on behalf of the analysis committee, Ebker noted the proposal for the courthouse, while it is the most expensive, would make the site fully ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant along with preserving the historic look of the facility. He said their five concerns were providing ADA and emergency access to the building, minimizing disruption of a working courthouse, and minimizing destruction of the appearance or view of the site.

“We think it’s an excellent design,” said Ebker. He also noted they hoped some  private funds could be obtained to help offset the total cost estimated at $14 million. “Impressive,” said Northern District Commissioner Max Aubuchon.

Ebker called the described the new building option as an “attractive, modern design” constructed of masonry and steel. It’s price tag was $10 million. No site has been named and land acquisition was not included in costs estimates for either the new site or at the present location. Mueller added land for either of these proposals may be donated or may be additional costs to the projections. Committee members said they had looked at a couple of sites in the Hermann area but that no options have been taken on any land.

“No commitment that has taken any obligation to taxpayers has been made,” said Mueller. “You’re not on the hook for anything.”

The land and building for the OES 3-5 Center site has been pledged as a government center by Don Lenauer and Jim Decker, the other two members comprising the analysis committee, should voters approve moving it to Owensville.

Ebker joked that although the group included some of the most “hardheaded” people he’d ever met, their final report was a “consensus and best thoughts of all of us.   I believe we have done what we volunteered to do.”

With that, he said, they would disband as an official committee. They agreed they would, however, be available to speak to groups across the county about the courthouse options if asked to do so.

Commissioners had originally scheduled the meeting as a closed session to discuss potential “land acquisition.” A letter from an attorney representing the Gasconade County Courthouse Society expressed a formal objection to holding the reveal of their final report in closed session.

Throughout the committee’s tenure, copies of all reports presented to the commission have been provided to The Republican in timely manners by either committee members themselves or commission members. None of the commissioners objected to holding the reveal in open session.