November 17, 1996

Pass The Hat If Necessary For Proper New Courthouse

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone.

Thus the problem is what to do about the proposed county courthouse. Right now folks would settle for some cosmetic surgery.

A Coral Gables architectural firm -- name withheld to avoid embarrassing it -- this week presented a "conceptual design" of the courthouse to county and Punta Gorda officials. Reaction ranged from shock to polite hmmmmmms.

The architectural rendering portrayed a $21.5 million structure in kindergarten-block squares of fire-truck-red brick. Another $5.7 million is earmarked for design (surely a refund is due), soil tests and other preparation costs. This brings the estimated total to $27.2 million.

Punta Gorda residents -- protective of their county seat status, old-Florida building style and bucolic waterfront -- mutter darkly about revenge.

Not to worry. The firm says the brick color can be toned down and camouflaged with some well-placed cabbage palms.

In all fairness to the architects, they were directed to enclose 160,000 square feet of space at the lowest possible cost. Plain square is cheap.

The original estimate three years ago for a new courthouse was $25 million, and for a new county jail $17 million. Sheriff Richard Worch won't be pinned down for an estimated cost. His mantra is: "What ever it takes for a 726-bed facility."

County voters three years ago extended the sales tax for four years by one-percent -- to seven-percent -- to finance both the courthouse and jail. It is expected that the combined building fund will have accumulated $48 million by cutoff at the end of next year.

If these figures hold, Worch would have $21 for a jail. However, he hints that a proper jail would cost considerably more.

No one seems to consider what Punta Gorda is contributing to the county project all together.

City officials contend the 10 acres of land being donated in the heart of downtown is worth $2.2 million as it sits. The property will be worth more when Classic Properties develops the other 22 acres for businesses, marina, condos and hotel.

The last permit necessary to start Classic Property's meter ticking -- a Development of Regional Impact -- is expected to be approved by March. The whole permitting process has taken six years by glacial standard.

Punta Gorda has spent $2.5 million to clear the previous mobile home park and obtain title from the state. The courthouse will benefit from about a third of these expenses.

Finally, the city has agreed to let its $4.6 million share of the sales tax increase be applied to the courthouse/jail projects.

The point is that Punta Gorda has dedicated plenty to keep the courthouse in the county seat where the Florida constitution mandates it.

The county commission has been quite autocratic in its dealings with Punta Gorda. First it hijacked constitutional officers and staff illegally to Murdock. Then it held the city to ransom about the courthouse which legally can not be moved away.

Punta Gorda has earned the right, with its contributions, to require the courthouse reflect prime location and surroundings. Red factory buildings on the main street don't qualify.

Others, also, have a legitimate say-so.

The sheriff is entitled by law to go over the commission to the governor's cabinet for adequate funding. Worch threatened to do this during last summer's budget negotiations, and his fuse after re-election is shorter today than it was six months ago.

The county commission's most serious oversight is that it really has not much leverage when it comes to courthouse affairs. "Here comes 'da judge."

Judges decide what they need (want) and the county is obliged by the state constitution to provide it. Substantial revenue flows into county coffers from fines levied by judges. Everyone should tread water until the judges weigh in.

Courthouses are not office buildings where routine business is conducted. This sometimes seems to be so; but representative democracy depends upon respect for the law. The place where law is measured should be at the summit.

The courthouse and court rooms should be dignified, majestic, even awesome. Symbolism is important. Why else do judges wear robes? Powdered wigs or tri-cornered hats would be nice.

Courtrooms should be panelled oak and high ceilinged. Over the judge's bench there should be an eight-foot bronze eagle with a ribbon imprinted "E Pluribus Unum" streaming from its beak and the American flag gripped in its talons.

Most of all, the front door of the courthouse should be flanked by a gallery of Doric columns. Tradition counts.

If the hardheads at Murdock aren't willing to issue a small bond for courthouse embellishments -- a la the obligation for a baseball stadium -- they should say so outright.

Then Punta Gorda residents can mount a scrap newspaper drive to buy some stone columns -- as they did a few years ago for a town clock. Ugly isn't a disgrace, but it might as well be.

PARTING SHOTS

One thing you learn the hard way is that there is no easy way.

* * *

Some Army officers and drill sergeants face courts martial for forcing sexual favors from women recruits. No need for concern. The commander-in-chief has set a legal precedent of postponing such trials until one's enlistment is over.

* * *

Character is what you are. Reputation is what people think you are.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers