Johnson County to hold informational meetings on proposed courthouse annex

IOWA CITY - The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will hold several meetings this month about a courthouse project going before voters in the Nov. 4 election.

The supervisors will share information and take questions about a proposed annex to the courthouse at seven meetings throughout the county, with the first one scheduled for Sept. 15.

The county is asking voters to approve a $33.4 million bond to pay for the building, which would be on the west side of the existing courthouse, 417 S. Clinton St. in Iowa City.

The 69,167-square-foot structure would include a secure entrance, six new courtrooms and additional space for the Clerk of Court, judges and meeting rooms for attorneys and clients. The current courthouse is 113 years old and officials say it has safety and space problems.

The bond needs at least 60 percent approval from voters to pass. A criminal justice center, which would have had court and jail space, failed to meet that threshold in elections in 2012 and 2013.

The schedule for the meetings, which each will have two supervisors in attendance, is:

' 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 15, Lone Tree Community Building, 203 1/2 N. Devoe St.

' 12:30-2 p.m. Sept. 16, Solon Public Library, 320 W. Main St.

' 10:30 a.m.-noon, Sept. 19, Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St., Iowa City.

' 9-10:30 a.m. Sept. 20, Iowa City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.

' 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 22, Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St.

' 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 22, Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

' 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 25, North Liberty Community Center, 520 W. Cherry St.