A plan to move the Eddy County Courthouse to a new $350 million complex south of Carlsbad was shelved Tuesday by the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners because public input was needed, said Bo Bowen, chairman of the commission.
He said he has received hundreds of calls and emails asking him to pause the plan to move the Eddy County Courthouse, Eddy County Administration offices and Eddy County Detention to one location south of Carlsbad until the community had input from residents of Carlsbad and Artesia on what to do. with the future of the iconic courthouse in downtown Carlsbad could be given.
County officials announced two town hall meetings: at 6 p.m. April 24 at the Eddy County Courthouse and at 6 p.m. April 29 at the Artesia City Council Chambers.
Mark Horton, a Carlsbad attorney, said law offices like his at 209 North Guadalupe Street were built around the first courthouse built in 1891.
The current Eddy County Courthouse is nearly 90 years old and has undergone many changes over the decades to accommodate various functions, including law enforcement offices and courtrooms.
“The town is built around the courthouse and when there is a trial, that trial lasts for a short period of time before lunch. People can go and have something to eat and come back and get there (quickly),” he said.
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Horton expressed concern about the proposal to move the courthouse on Corrales Road, near the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. He said this would pose a risk to those trying to direct traffic in the area.
“Look at a lot of alternatives,” he told the commissioners.
According to Eddy County records, the Eddy County Courthouse was placed on the New Mexico State Historical Record on May 9, 1986.
In a memorandum to commissioners, Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales said the county needs new facilities because it has outgrown those considered outdated for the 21st century.st century.
In 2021, commissioners narrowly approved an estimated $2 million courthouse renovation for a new judge in the Fifth Judicial District.
At the time, calls were made for a new combined judicial complex that would combine the courthouse and the detention center.
“Delay is necessary to consider all options. (The) commission has no intention of selling or demolishing it,” District 2 County Commissioner Jon Henry said during Tuesday’s meeting.
In a Facebook post Sunday, Henry pushed back on social media comments that the courthouse would be demolished if a new complex were built.
“The Board of County Commissioners has NEVER, not once discussed demolishing this property. This rumor is nothing but foolishness,” he wrote.
“The courthouse has always been the center of the community,” County Commissioner Ernie Carlson said during Tuesday’s meeting.
District 5 Commissioner Sarah Cordova said the public’s input was appreciated and said “due diligence” was needed before moving forward.
“Transparency is the most important thing we can do,” Cordova said.
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An overview of the proposed new courthouse
The layout of the proposed facility varies; each proposal places a new administration building, detention center and courthouse in different parts of the complex.
The courthouse would have two floors. The first floor would house courtrooms and office space for Eddy County Magistrate Courts Division One and Division Two, currently located at 1949 South Canal Street. The second floor would contain courtrooms for the Fifth Judicial District and possible space for the Carlsbad Municipal Court.
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Ward 3 Carlsbad City Councilwoman Mary Garwood said no formal discussions have taken place between the city of Carlsbad and Eddy County.
“I think when it comes to the province, they’ll ask the council if we want to move there too,” she said.
Gonzales said a new court would increase safety for County employees and court personnel. Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage said a secure parking lot would benefit judges in the county.
“Where they can come out and get into their vehicles is critical,” he said.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County awaits plans to build new courthouse
