Freeholders plan $12.5 mil property purchase

[cheryl]

Hours before vote, Monmouth County freeholders reveal plans for $12.5 million property purchase
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/27/07

BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD -- The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders said they plan to use their meeting tonight to finalize a $12.5 million purchase of property for a new county justice complex. But a county facilities' study the freeholders said they based their decision on has not been made public, and the board had not previously stated its intent to house the county Prosecutor's Office, Sheriff's Department and a 911 center on one site.

Freeholder Director William C. Barham said the board did not want to disrupt property acquisition negotiations. Barham said the facilities' study could be obtained by the public, but acting County Administrator Teri O'Connor said the report is still in draft form and is not a public document.

The property on Three Brooks Road in Freehold Township consists of 44 acres and has a 120,000-square-foot structure presently occupied by Shore Point Distributors. Barham said the building, which has 20-foot bays, will be subdivided within existing space by adding a second floor, converting the structure to include approximately 200,000 square feet.

The Prosecutor's Office headquarters is currently at the Monmouth County Courthouse. The space there that will be vacated will be used for court functions, Barham said.

The board meets at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St., Freehold.

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS/70927083

[richardkelsey]

cheryl said:

Hours before vote, Monmouth County freeholders reveal plans for $12.5 million property purchase
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/27/07

BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD -- The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders said they plan to use their meeting tonight to finalize a $12.5 million purchase of property for a new county justice complex. But a county facilities' study the freeholders said they based their decision on has not been made public, and the board had not previously stated its intent to house the county Prosecutor's Office, Sheriff's Department and a 911 center on one site.

Freeholder Director William C. Barham said the board did not want to disrupt property acquisition negotiations. Barham said the facilities' study could be obtained by the public, but acting County Administrator Teri O'Connor said the report is still in draft form and is not a public document.

The property on Three Brooks Road in Freehold Township consists of 44 acres and has a 120,000-square-foot structure presently occupied by Shore Point Distributors. Barham said the building, which has 20-foot bays, will be subdivided within existing space by adding a second floor, converting the structure to include approximately 200,000 square feet.

The Prosecutor's Office headquarters is currently at the Monmouth County Courthouse. The space there that will be vacated will be used for court functions, Barham said.

The board meets at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St., Freehold.

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS/70927083

This sounds completely strange to me. As busy as the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office is or should be -- with its case load -- why would it be moved all the way out there?

The overwhelming majority of Courthouses in which I have practiced house the prosecutor's offices. In fact, I can't think of a single Courthouse in which I have practiced where the prosecutors were not either in the Courthouse, or within walking distance of the Courthouse.

Anyone who has ever seen a criminal docket at work could tell you why that is. As described, the story makes no sense.

I am sure they will maintain operational space and offices in the Courthouse.

[leelye]

richardkelsey said:

cheryl said:

Hours before vote, Monmouth County freeholders reveal plans for $12.5 million property purchase
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/27/07

BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD -- The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders said they plan to use their meeting tonight to finalize a $12.5 million purchase of property for a new county justice complex. But a county facilities' study the freeholders said they based their decision on has not been made public, and the board had not previously stated its intent to house the county Prosecutor's Office, Sheriff's Department and a 911 center on one site.

Freeholder Director William C. Barham said the board did not want to disrupt property acquisition negotiations. Barham said the facilities' study could be obtained by the public, but acting County Administrator Teri O'Connor said the report is still in draft form and is not a public document.

The property on Three Brooks Road in Freehold Township consists of 44 acres and has a 120,000-square-foot structure presently occupied by Shore Point Distributors. Barham said the building, which has 20-foot bays, will be subdivided within existing space by adding a second floor, converting the structure to include approximately 200,000 square feet.

The Prosecutor's Office headquarters is currently at the Monmouth County Courthouse. The space there that will be vacated will be used for court functions, Barham said.

The board meets at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St., Freehold.

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS/70927083

This sounds completely strange to me. As busy as the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office is or should be -- with its case load -- why would it be moved all the way out there?

The overwhelming majority of Courthouses in which I have practiced house the prosecutor's offices. In fact, I can't think of a single Courthouse in which I have practiced where the prosecutors were not either in the Courthouse, or within walking distance of the Courthouse.

Anyone who has ever seen a criminal docket at work could tell you why that is. As described, the story makes no sense.

I am sure they will maintain operational space and offices in the Courthouse.

Rich,

The Courthouse is squeezed for space. The Prosecutor's Office takes up most of the third floor, plus they have offices on Jerseyville Ave., and in Asbury Park. They were supposed to expand their space on Jerseyville when they acquired two adjacent properties they tore down but never built. They need more Courtrooms. I don't know what will become of this new proposed Justice Complex or if it will come to fruition. On the plus side, the Twp will lose a ratable as opposed to the Borough, but then again what will become of the current Sheriff's Office and the Prosecutor's office on Jerseyville?

Leelye