We, the undersigned members of the community, propose repurposing the historic courthouse as the new county library and relocating the county courthouse to the existing Madelyn Helling Library site. The vintage courthouse holds immense cultural and architectural significance for our city. Preserving this landmark and utilizing it as a new county library would not only honor our past, but also provide a unique and inspiring setting for learning and community engagement. We believe this would benefit our community and preserve an important piece of our history. 

By repurposing the defunct courthouse as a new library, we would be creating a hub for literacy, education, and community activities in the heart of our commercial district. This move would ensure the courthouse building does not become another so-called “zombie building” in our downtown, but instead would provide easier access for our school children and attract both residents and visitors to the downtown area to support local businesses.

Furthermore, relocating the courthouse to the Madelyn Helling site would provide a convenient solution to the property acquisition phase of the relocation process as the parcel is already county owned. This site meets and exceeds all of the criteria listed by the Judicial Council’s Court Facilities Advisory Committee.

The current courthouse building and its annex also have room for a larger library facility. Whether occupied entirely by the library itself, or with room for city/county art and cultural facilities, the 200-500 daily visitors to the Madelyn Helling would surely appreciate the extra space. This location also makes available a convenient parking garage for library staff and physically handicapped patrons. The present jurors’ parking lot only has 8 fewer parking spaces than are dedicated at the Helling site.

This proposal not only preserves our history and improves access to library services, but also supports sustainable development by repurposing existing infrastructure. We understand the enormity of the cost associated with this proposal, however we consider this an investment in our community's future. We urge our decision-makers to consider this proposal and explore the possibilities it offers for our community.