By Shannon Lukens.
The official Dedication and Cornerstone Ceremony at the new Moffat County Courthouse is at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Everyone is invited.
The new courthouse is at 1198 W. Victory Way in Craig. Moffat County Courthouse Presentation
Roy Tipton is the Director of Development Services for the county, and has been in charge of the courthouse renovation project for the county.
“It’s really exciting to see this for this community. All the stars aligned to make this work.”
Tipton said the county bought the old Kmart building at the right time and at the right price. They reallocated new bonds from the old safety center at the right interest rate. They got a good contractor who came in under budget. They also got a Congressional Award for $4.65 million dollars for the project.
“At the end of the day, we had the right team, architect, general contractor, everybody involved to put it all together. And when you look back at the whole picture, it is amazing that it all fell into place. It was meant to be.”
Tipton emphasized the team effort with everyone in the county and help from the state.
Tipton has now announced that he is moving from the area to southwest Missouri to be closer to family, after 20 years in Moffat County.
“I’m anxious for a change of pace. Different scenery. But it’s bittersweet. I’ve got friendships here and I guess I could say we’re anchored here. It’s bittersweet but I’m looking forward to it.”
Work begins Monday, Sept. 18, on an Environmental Study for the property at the original Moffat County Courthouse on Victory Way. The building will be removed. The study should take about three months.
Here again is Moffat County’s Director of Development Services, Roy Tipton.
“It will be removed and the idea is that will be given to the Economic Development Council with the city so that they can go to a developer and say, ‘Look, we’ll give you this ground if you come in here and build something.’ Because our goal was to put properties back on the tax rolls to help the offset from taking this property off the tax roll.”
The original Moffat County Courthouse was built in 1917. It was renovated with additions in 1932 and 1962. But it was out of compliance with things like the Americans with Disabilities Act, problems with HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, and no fire sprinkler system.