So for now, the options are to build downtown Loudon on the old Hutch site or to build a much smaller addition to the old courthouse.

If the new facility isn't going to be located at the Justice Center to eliminate the felon prisoners transportation and officer safety problems, then the idea to build a large, new facility offsite no longer makes any financial sense. Several commissioners are in favor of using the old courthouse, when rebuilt, and building a much smaller, new addition to the old courthouse.

On the upside, this would save the county millions of dollars. On the downside this certainly doesn't solve the biggest problems and it will also eliminate using the old courthouse as a historic venue.

Loudon city officials and commissioners have been all in on building the new facility on the old Hutch property. But problems have risen with contamination on that property. But as stated previously, if we're going to utilize the old courthouse, it would be irresponsible to spend seven million dollars on another facility.

The new addition to the old courthouse could house the Circuit and Criminal courts and their related offices. The old courthouse could house Chancery Court and the related offices.  

We could even build the new scaled-down building at the Justice Center for Circuit and Criminal courts and their related offices and leave Chancery Court and the related offices at the old courthouse. 

I'm still holding out that politics can be taken out of the decision and rational minds will eventually prevail and the new building will be located at the Justice Center, if for no other reason than protecting our officers.

Time will tell.