In February, the Herald printed my letter about the courthouse, “Everett no longer county center.” I also spoke to the County Council in March about building the new courthouse in Clearview for much less than $100 million on the county-owned 200-plus acres of land on Cathcart Way.
Council chairman Dave Somers insisted the new courthouse be built in downtown Everett, close to attorney offices and the main jail.
I countered that a small holding jail could be built near the 20 or so new courtrooms for the handful of accused felons on trial. The courthouse would be built horizontally not vertically, saving millions in construction costs such as elevators and earthquake safety.
Who are more important, a small group of Everett attorneys or the county citizens and property taxpayers who will use and fund the new courthouse?
Councilman Somers should apply some common sense and ask the 20 or so Superior Court judges for their opinions on alternatives to downtown Everett with its congestion and little free or convenient parking for visitors and county staff.
What is councilman Somers afraid of? He should simply let the executive proceed with cost/benefit analyses on other sites and seek bids for the work.
Morgan Davis
Snohomish
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