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Overwhelming support buoys hope for preserving Courthouse Meeting for Preservation of Courthouse had overwhelming unity of purpose. Judge Melton is appointing chairs for three committees to 1) study options on restoration to original structure vs. removing 1970s additions, 2) Studying grants, rents and funding, and 3) Study ideas for uses for the building Click on headline to read entire story with photos By Ed Waggener An overwhelming show of public support was made evident in the turnout at the first public meeting on the Future of the Adair County Courthouse Tuesday night, June 30, 2009. As a result of the work done then, County Judge Executive Ann Melton plans to name chairpersons for three committees who will research three issues opportunities for the preservation and future use of the landmark:
Over 50 people signed the register, and one person in attendance, Brady Button of Lindsey Wilson, said Wednesday that from his vantage point, he'd estimate the number at over 100.Of those in attendance, 30 or more volunteered for at least one committee, some for more.Volunteers for committees at the meeting include: Restoration - removal of addition Committee Dan Antle, Bobby Beard, Charles Grimsley, Sherri Crawhorn, Lisa Lee, JD Zornes, George Kolbenslag Funding Committee Linda Waggener, Ron Heath, Ellen Zornes, Sherri Crawhorn, Kaye Bowman, Susan Loy, Emily Sargent, Mary Frances May, Billy Joe Fudge, Vonnie Kolbenschlag. Lee Ann Jessee Ideas/Renters for Courthouse Barbara Armitage, Richard Phelps, Bobby Beard, Roger Meadows, Mike Watson, Linda Lewis, Carol Meadows, Wanda Beard, Donna Shirley, Charles Grimsley, Ellen Zornes, Wanda Hill, Sherri Crawhorn, Wayne Armitage, Ernestine Bennett, Phyllis Goodin Judge Melton is keeping the list open Judge Melton is keeping the list open, and volunteers who want to be on committees and who would be willing to serve as chairpersons of committees are still welcome until the final appointments are made on Monday, July 6, 2009. "I'm really impressed with the people who have come out," Judge Melton said. "Not only by the numbers," she said, "but by the caliber of leadership we had here tonight." At her side during the meeting was Mayor Pat Bell. Judge Melton told the audience, "The Courthouse is owned by Fiscal Court. It's our responsibility, but is belongs to everybody. It's in the middle of Mayor Bell's town, so it is his, too. Just as it belongs to each of us." From three charts, Judge Melton presented the numbers: Space in the building
Generally, the audience seemed to favor restoration of the building to its original state. Mayor Bell reminded the group that taking the color back to its original red can be done safely and easily with chemicals. Kay Bowman suggested that removing the 1970s additions would decrease square footage. Bowman is a strong advocate for small business start ups on the square, and made the case for incubator businesses. She and fellow Entrepreneur Institute graduate Sharon Burton, publisher of the Adair Community Voice, both emphasized the need for the movement to preserve the courthouse be coupled with a strong effort to revitalize the entire downtown. The idea of using the Courthouse as part of the business incubation initiative had been voiced earlier in the meeting, as well, by Columbia City Councillor Linda Waggener, one of the first speakers to comment on the future of the building. Kay Bowman also suggested that more venues are needed for meetings. "The L.E.A.D. group is looking for a permanent place to meet," she said, "maybe leaving the wings on the building would make more room for this use." Mrs. Hill suggests use of building for museum, arts, crafts Wanda Hill was the first speaker from the audience. She favored removing the 1970s additions, and complete restoration to the original look. She reminded the audience of a recent KET show which featured the Taylorsville, Spencer County artists groups who have converted a historic jail there into an art gallery. "There could be a little coffee shop, and perhaps a antiques stores, as well," Mrs. Hill said. Judge Melton agreed, and added that she had talked to other county judges who have had orphaned courthouses and that many of them had rented the buildings to both private and public leasees. Ellen Zornes of L.E.A.D. speaks Ellen Zornes, one of the original members of L.E.A.D., suggested financing be sought by securing grants. She also suggested that different civic clubs might take responsibility for restoration, rental, and use of different areas of the courthouse. Ms. Zornes pointed out the milions of tourists who are looking for places visit such as a restored courthouse would offer. Glenn Barry Loy says private enterprise, alone can't do job Glenn Barry Loy suggested that Rep. Carney be contacted to require state agencies to use available office space in a renovated courthouse before taking space from private real estate owners. "Unfortunately," he said, "in America we don't operate in the European mode where governments make preservation a principle of government." He suggested that Governor Beshear be contacted about this suggestion. He added, "And, facetiously, I might add that we could tell him we want to put in video slots to support the preservation." Judge Melton commented that the State had put a crimp in the county budget by leaving the upstairs of the Annex Building, "and they had committed to a 20 year rental," she said. "I do understand that they felt they needed to consolidate the offices in one location," she added. Barbara Armitage: The sky's the limit Barbara Armitage told the group that she loved Columbia and Adair County enough to move here. "All we need for this to happen is to have very strong leadership," she said. "If we love Columbia," she said, "we can do this." She chided the "you oughta do" people who complain about Columbia and Adair County but never take any action. "I look around this room tonight," she said, "and I don't see any of the 'you oughtas' here!""I chose to live here," she said. "This must be a good place."Armitage said that changes the Adair County Garden Club has been making provide proof that Adair Countians can meet challenges. Upstairs could be historical library, Donna Shirley said Donna Shirley, a member of the Columbia Parks & Recreation Board, endorsed the idea of shops for artists in the downstairs area of the Courhouse. "We should also think of using the upstairs for a historical library. It would be a great place for research," she said. Following Ms. Shirley's presentation, Judge Melton polled the audience, and said, "Does anybody in this audience think the Courthouse should be torn down, now, after hearing this?" Not a single hand went up. "People come to Columbia from every state, every year to study genealogy at the library," Jessee, also a founding member of L.E.A.D. as well as being the Director of the Adair County Public LIbrary. "We don't have a lot of space," she said. "And we ought to remember the tourism dollars which the genealogy reseaarchers bring to the community. They stay at Magnolia House, they eat in restaurants, they walk the town and bring vitality to it. We'd welcome the idea of that space as a historical library." Adair County History author Mike Watson made a special trip from his Harrodsburg, KY, home to do research and to be at the meeting. He suggested that the oldest county records might be turned over to the Adair County Historical Society who would be responsible for the materials and would make them available to everyone who visits historic Columbia, KY. Linda Lewis told the gathering that in the past few days, visitors from Ohio, Tennessee, New York and other areas had stayed at Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast. "When we mentioned to them that there was some mention of tearing down the old courthouse, they took walks downtown and all of them told us they were appalled that the idea could even be mentioned. Sue Stivers said that visitors to Columbia continuously tell us that the courthouse is the most beautiful public building they have ever seen. "We have bus tour companies asking if there are shops where people can stop and buy souvenirs in our downtown, and I have to tell them we don't have exactly what they are looking for. If the courthouse were to have little shops offering mementos of the community, more of the tour busses would stop here." Stivers said that a tour bus stop in a community means $5,000 in local sales. "They ring cash registers," she said. Billy Joe Fudge commends group on civil discourse Billy Joe Fudge commended everyone for being at the meeting. He said that 10 million visitors a year come to South Central Kentucky annually. "They are all looking for something. We just need to find more ways to bring them to Columbia." Fudge said that he was impressed by the unity shown in the meeting, "And especially the tone of civil discourse." Later he said that the principle of civil discourse, of discussing ideas without demonizing the opposition, was one he had often discussed with lifetime friend John Chowning. "John told me that he doesn't always get his way on ideas," Fudge said, "but he said it was important that everybody's opinion and every person advocating a position be respected." Fudge said that is the way communities move ahead. Sharon Burton says movement needs to be bigger Publisher Sharon Burton spoke briefly toward the end of the public discussion suggested a foundation along the lines of one in Tupelo, Mississippi, which would guide the development of the Downtown as a whole. "The Courthouse is important. It is the core, but we have a much bigger need," she said, advocating the same spirit for the future. "We need to be thinking not just about now, but where do we want Columbia to be in the 10 years?" This story was posted on 2009-07-02 07:09:19
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