Do�a1a Ana County faces large maintenance bill for century-old courthouse; commissioners request detailed plan

County facilities staff presented a final facilities condition assessment on May 5 for aging county buildings, focusing on the Third Judicial District courthouse. Justin Weaver said the courthouse is roughly 107 years old and that recent assessments rate parts of the facility as in "poor" condition on facility-condition indices.

Weaver said immediate needs include restrooms and common areas that fail ADA standards; restroom renovations alone were estimated at about $500,000, and he said a $750,000 request would be "a substantial ask" to address immediate accessibility and safety concerns. The county is also receiving $800,000 in ICIP funds this cycle to address the roof.

But commissioners were unsettled by a longer-term total estimate associated with bringing all county facilities to standard; Weaver cited an aggregate figure near $60 million for the Third Judicial complex, noting the $1 million ask previously proposed had been pulled pending further detail. Several commissioners asked for a breakdown of the $60 million estimate, an inventory of what the $1 million would cover and an analysis of whether a new replacement facility might make more sense than continuing to invest large sums in the aging building.

Commissioners also discussed security and ADA implications, the need to identify what improvements are essential to keep the courthouse functional for the next five years, and which items can be deferred while planning a longer-term solution. The board asked staff to return with granular line items and options including a five-year "keep-it-functional" plan and higher-level alternatives such as off-site consolidation or a new facility.