Warren County moves ahead with $2.5 million court expansion

Warren County government complex

Warren County government complex

Warren County is moving ahead with plans for a $2.5 million addition to the juvenile and probate court building.

The addition is part of a series of improvements - expected to cost more than $60 million - planned on every building in the government complex in Lebanon.

RELATED:Election board, prosecutors, emergency services to move into $6.5 million county building

“This is the first piece of the puzzle,” Mike Shadoan, then county architect and building services manager said in 2014 after a new building opened behind the common pleas court building.

On Tuesday, the commissioners voted to go forward with this project while delaying action on a vote raising the sales tax to pay for a $50 million jail.

RELATED: Debate continues over jail funding

Also still undone is the move of the Warren County Court into the common pleas court building.

RELATED: County officials debate court move

The Warren County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday permitting the county to search for an architect to design the expansion of the juvenile and probate facilities.

The project does not include expanded parking for the facilities, off the Ohio 48 bypass, County Administrator Tiffany Zindel said.

The expansion is expected to be paid at least partly from cash on hand and is expected to provide adequate space for “years to come,” Zindel said.

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