Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1935-11-28
Committees Discuss The
Court House Improvement

The citizens committee named
recently to discuss plans for the
improving of the court house, met
Monday afternoon in the common
pleas court room. w. d. Matson,
chairman, presided. Practically the
entire committee was present; also
the county commissioners, county
engineer, county auditor; L. G.
Gibson, WPA district director, Max
Ross, county WPA director, and
Mr.. Mills, architect.
Three proposed plans were dis
cussed. One was to narrow the
downstairs hall in order to give
more room to the offices, and to ex-
cavate the basement, partly for Of
fees and the remainder for neat
ing plant. Another proposal was TO
build an addition at the north end;
and the other was to repair and re-
furbish the present building.
1t will be recalled that federal
grant of about $4,000 has been set
aside by the government FOR TINS
use as part of Morgan county's
WPA allotment, provided the coun-
ty puts up $4,000 as sponsor s
share. making in all about $37 ,OOo.
This was about two years ago, ana
Mr.. Mills, architect, drew set or
plans, which provided for the ad-
dition at the north end, with four
new rooms, and heating plant for
new addition, only. This at that
tirae the architect stated could be
done for the said allotment, but
since that time building materials
have increased, and it would take
much more than that sum. 1t also
was brought out during the discus
sion that cost of installing heating
plant, paying Of architect and engl-
neering fees, part of the cost OF
skilled laborers, cost or 1gnting
fixtures, and many other things,
would have to be met out or the
sponsors share, since the govern
ment would not allow the grant TO
be used for such things. This being
the case, it developed that the coun-
ty would have to put up as its share
at least $4,000, since the $5,O0o
would not pay for more than the
heating plant alone.
Alonzo Hanson, speaking for the
county commissioners, stated they
could not see where that sum OF
money would come from. He showed
by figures the lessened tax collec-
ton; also that there were not suf-
ficient funds in sight to take care
of child's welfare, tuberculosis.
for the feebles minded, and other
necessary things.
Upon motion, the chairman
was authorized to appoint a COM
mittee to meet with the county
commissioners, to confer with them
and see what they felt they could
do in the matter, and the committee
to report back to the citizens COM
mittee. The chair named Mrs. Geo.
M. Scott, Raymond Durbin, Fred
Coulson, DR.. c.. e. Northrup and
Mrs. w. c. Manly. The committee
met the commissioners Tuesday af-
ternoon.
At this meeting, called by the
chairman, Mrs. Scott, the matter
was again discussed, but nothing
definite was done. Since it would
REQUIRE $4,000 from the county, to
get the $4,000 from the federal
government, the commissioners
stated that in order to get that sum
of money it would have to be ap-
proved by vote of the people of
the county. Mr.. Fred Coulson, a
member of the committee, stated
that he felt the county commission
ers have done mighty we'll in keep
ing us out of debt; that Morgan is
one of the few counties in the state
not burdened with debt. He also
pointed to the danger that would
come, if we plunge into debt, and
that it would probably mean that
in time we would be joined to some
other county, situation that none
want to see.
The court house project was SUBJ
mitted as relief project, and since
It would take very much skilled la
Dor, which would for the most part
have to come from out of the coun-
ty, it wuld not serve as much re-
lief. Althugh the matter was ta
bled indefinitely, it does not mean
that the way is closed for good, for
court house Improvements, since the
federal allotment still stands, and
there may be way yet in which to
use 1t at an advantage.
We approve Of the stand the
county commissioners have taken in
moving cautiously, instead of plung-
ing in, and perhaps saddling a
heavy debt on the taxpayers.
Mrs. Charlotte Huffman Bradford