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Mr]' R. J. Frye <br />Page 2 <br />May 8, 1992 <br /> <br />OPTION 2: <br /> <br />If the Board of Supervisors is willing to make a decision to locate <br />the court facilities within the City of Martinsville without pro- <br />ceeding with a referendum and to negotiate in good faith with the <br />Council to finalize the details of the incentive package, City <br />Council is willing to offer: <br /> <br />The above mentioned site on the condition previously <br />stated but is also willing to negotiate further, sub- <br />stantial incentives in addition to the "clean" site. <br /> <br />We realize that the Board may feel that areferendum is necessary, <br />regardless of where the Courthouse will be located. However, we <br />believe the Board should consider that: <br /> <br />(i) <br /> <br />there are several legal opinions which would sup- <br />port the Board constructing a new Courthouse at a <br />contiguous location within the City without holding <br />a referendum; <br /> <br />(2) <br /> <br />as the Board will soon be under Court Order to con- <br />struct the Courthouse, no referendum is necessary <br />to determine if a new facility will be constructed; <br /> <br />(3) <br /> <br />the financing mechanism of Certificates of Parti- <br />cipation (C.O.'P.S.) would allow the Board to raise <br />funds without asking voters to approve a bond <br />referendum; and <br /> <br /> (4) if the Board delays Courthouse construction until <br /> following the November election, the project cost <br /> will increase due to an increase in interest rates <br /> (rates are very low now, and may rise following the <br /> election) and due to rising construction costs. <br /> <br />If the Courthouse is constructed at the proposed site, we would <br />recommend that the facility be built for potential expansion and <br />sited to allow for potential regional jail construction. When, at <br />some point in the future, Martinsville and Henry County merge into <br />a common government, the Courthouse could be expanded to absorb the <br />City's caseload and create a governmental center for the locality. <br /> <br /> We are, of course, interested in the future vitality of downtown <br /> Martinsville and feel that a vibrant downtown will enhance the <br /> overall vitality of the Martinsville-Henry County area. We also <br />· feel that Henry County will be well-served by a new Courthouse at <br /> the proposed site in that it will offer abundant parking, good <br /> <br /> <br />