The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-28
WZI1HDlVG MATER ENDED,
 .0FFICIALS SAY
Board Of Revenue Ex- cludes City Hall From
 All Court House Plans

When the preliminary plans for the new Jefferson county court house are submitted to the board of revenue at next Fridays meeting, they will make no provision for a. joint city-county building, H. B. Wheelock, architect in charge, said Sunday night. He pointed out that, originally, two sets of plans were prepared, including one providing for a joint building, but he now is mak- ing provision for only a county admin istration structure.
 MT. Wheelock declined to give the details of the proposed building beyond the admission that it will be used for county purposes only, saying that he did not feel at liberty to make them public until after they have been sub mitted to the board of revenue for ap- proval.
 ."The county is going ahead on the assumption that the city does not wish to take part in joint project" he said. "The plans I was formerly at work on have been left uncompleted, as was informed that there was lit tie or no prospect of q joint building" Start In July.
 sThe board of revenue expects to start work on the new structure by the Il night. "So far as I know the board will go ahead with it's original plans just as though the city commission had never considered joining in with us. We take it for granted, from the ex- pressed attitude of its members, that the city has been definitely eliminated l from consideration
 l-. ME. MneY added that board members 1 felt the need for immediate steps to re- t1ieve congestion at the court house and were resolved to rush the new building | to completion. He said they had no objection to cooperating with city of- ficials, but were unwilling to delay county plans while they decide what they wish to do.
 ID. c. Ball, president of the board of revenue, has expressed himself as wish Ing to carry out the original plans for O separate county administration build l ing without waiting for the city to act. He said he thought the matter had been taken out of the hands of the board of l;revenie by the action of the city com mission ip delaying construction Of the new city hall and giving precedence to better school facilities.
 Gave Opportunities.
 We have shown a desire to work for Jolnt building If 1t IS most need- ed," he said, ''but our need is more ur- gent than the city's. It is probably true that a new city hall is not needed now and that the old one can be used for year or two longer. But that is not true of the court house. We must get new building under way as soon as we can. If the city will not make arrangements to cooperate with us, then there is nothing left for us to do but construct a separate building"
 President D. D. McLendOn of the city commission said he was in favor of letting the new city hall wait and pro- viding other things that are more needed. | A'The city is within $5,0O0,000 of it's bond limit. and we do not wish to get any closer" he said. II would be in favor of a separate building for the city library and using the present ii- brary rooms for city offices. That would take care of our needs for 10 or 15 years longer"
 Mir. McLcndon added, however, that he did not consider the matter closed and said another conference probably would be called between the city com mission and the board of revenue be- | forA a dafinitp decision ia reached