Greene County starts construction on new circuit court entrance building

Work is underway on a new building that would serve as a secured entrance to the Greene County Circuit Court, part of millions of dollars' worth of renovation and expansion projects from the county in the government plaza area north of Chestnut Expressway.

General contractor KCI Construction Co. mobilized to the site, the parking lot directly in front of the 1010 N. Boonville Ave. circuit court building, during the week of March 12, according to information provided by county spokesperson Robert Jehle. The construction company has installed temporary construction fencing in preparation for the work, which is slated for completion by fall 2026.

The roughly 11,000-square-foot secured entrance building also would connect the circuit court with the former Greene County Sheriff's Office and Jail on Boonville Avenue, where new family courtrooms are planned, county officials say. The county's $150 million jail and sheriff's office building opened at 5100 W. State Highway EE in 2022.

KCI Construction Co.'s total expected cost for the Greene County government plaza campus initiative is $25 million, said Rob Rigdon, a county project manager. The work includes consolidated spaces for county departments across multiple buildings.

The planned scope of work includes renovations of the circuit court building, Historic Courthouse and administration building, with a 2027 completion date targeted, officials say. Rigdon said work completed to date includes the paving of a parking lot west of the Historic Courthouse and infill of interior shell space in the Public Safety Center.

"The interior space of the Historic Courthouse will also be renovated next year to accommodate the move of the [Greene County] Commission to coincide with that of the public administrator out of the Cox Medical Tower. This will allow money to be saved on lease payments for the top floor of the Cox Medical Tower," Rigdon said via email.

Project funding comes from a general revenue sales tax passed by voters in 2017.