The Clinton County Project Development Board–Judicial Center Project meeting, was held via teleconference last Friday morning, March 19.

Members present were Jake Staton, David L. Williams, James M. Lawson, Jesse Stockton and Tracy Cross, along with advisory members Ronnie McCall, Corky Mohedano, Danny Rhoades and Michael Rains.

During the meeting dealing with the proposed new multi-million dollar Justice Center for Albany and Clinton County, which is in its early stages, the following actions were taken.

* On a motion by Williams, seconded by Lawson, the board unanimously appointed Clinton County Clerk Nathan Collins as PDB Secretary. In relation, on a motion by Lawson, seconded by Cross, they voted to pay Collins $100 per meeting.

After tabling the approval of minutes from the previous meeting, the board, on a motion by Lawson, seconded by Cross, voted to enter into closed session per AP Part X, Chapter 3 Section 3-4 (G)(2),

After returning to open session on a motion by Stockton, seconded by Lawson, the PDB voted unanimously to narrow down to three the list of architectural firms to be interviewed for the project.

On a motion by Stockton, seconded by Williams, the board selected the firms of Sherman Carter Barnhart, K. Norman Berry and GRW to be interviewed for the architect on the project.

On a motion by Stockton, seconded by Lawson, the board then chose Compass to be the financial advisor for the Judicial Center project, with Judge Williams abstaining.

After setting the next Project Development Board meeting on the Judicial Center Project for Friday, April 16 at 8 a.m. Central Time, the meeting was adjourned.

The Judicial Center project began a few months ago when the AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) presented a proposal to the Clinton County Fiscal Court. The project will entail many steps, including property selection, land purchase, and eventual construction, and could take a few years to reach completion.

It was noted earlier by court officials that all offices related to the Judicial Court system would be moved from the existing courthouse into the new facility, likely to be a two-story building, and that building will be located within the city limits of Albany.

More details on the Justice Center project will be published as meetings are held and details become available.