By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
After being authorized by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2020, Barren County’s new judicial center has a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for noon Thursday, Oct. 30, at the construction site of the 58,000 square foot, three-story building off West Main Street in Glasgow.
At the Barren County Public Properties Corporation meeting, members approved the issuance of $45.4 million worth of bonds, which Michael Oldiges with Baird said was “the final piece of the puzzle [needed] to get the center’s construction underway.” Oldiges also said the bond sale would take place on Nov. 5 with the bond issue closing on Nov. 25.
The project cost is $50 million, according to a press release from the Administrative Office of the courts. The construction bids came back under budget — roughly 20 percent less than was projected, according to prior reporting. Oldiges told the Barren County Fiscal Court Magistrates that approximately $43 million received through bond sales would be used on the construction.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd clarified that this issuance would not effect the county’s bond capacity.
Substantial completion date is set for March 27, 2028, according to a contract approved by the fiscal court on Oct. 21, which also lists the final date of completion as June 26, 2028.
Due to the groundbreaking ceremony the courthouse will be closed from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday “to allow staff to attend,” according to a general order regarding the closure. This order does not cancel or reschedule any court appearances, the order stated.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony.
