While the Sweetwater County Commissioners are now mulling over options regarding the future of the district and circuit courts, one thing we can be certain about is this:
The Green River Circuit Court will be leaving the city at some point.
The reason why we come to this conclusion is due to a lack of developable land available for a combined circuit and district court building. According to Laura Leigh, director of community development for the city, the building would need to be placed on a section of land zoned for commercial development. Space, without knocking down a building or two, is hard to come by along both Uinta Drive and Flaming Gorge Way.
Some land, such as the former Lincoln High School lots, could potentially be used after being rezoned, however that land use wouldn’t be compatible with neighboring uses. Would a court facility, with its stringent security requirements, be compatible with a nearby neighborhood? We don’t think so.
The largest reason will be the cost associated with the project. Supposing the county were to build a new facility to expanded house circuit and district courts, it could cost taxpayers more than $24 million, without including land acquisition costs. The cost for building a unified circuit court building and renovating the county courthouse to house three district court judges would be about $9 million less.
A unified circuit court is a real benefit to Sweetwater County. There’s no denying it. the proposed site, which would make the circuit court building adjacent to the Sweetwater County Detention Center would not only save money and time in hosting the many hearings that occur with the detention center’s population.
It also represents a solution to the many security problems at the Rock Springs Circuit Court and is a means to even out the inequitable workload distribution between the two courts. Yet, despite these benefits, Green River will suffer slightly as another county service meanders away from the city. Fewer people will frequent the city’s restaurants as the workers at the circuit court, as well as the people served through the court’s many services, will more likely have their lunches in Rock Springs.
Sales will also decline at the city’s gas stations as fewer employees will need to purchase fuel. Some jobs will be created through the inclusion of a third circuit court judge, the city still loses out because of the services the circuit court provides would lease. Civil suits up to $50,000 are handed in the state’s circuit courts and attorneys wouldn’t have to come to Green River unless they were dealing with an issue involving the district courts.
We would support a solution that would either keep Green River’s circuit court or unify the courts within the city. Without those services, Green River stands to lose more than just a judge and a couple of staffers.
Reader Comments(0)