Sutter County courthouse project still on track

A long-awaited new courthouse for Sutter County isn't on the discussion list for state officials meeting Thursday to see what court projects can be delayed.

Instead, the courthouse — far enough along in the planning to have artist renderings — is still on track to break ground next summer in Yuba City, near the county jail.

"They're into the design phase now," said Teresa Ruano, a spokeswoman for the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

State court officials have convened a meeting for Thursday to discuss adjustments to the court construction plan, in reaction to a push by the governor's office to move up a public/private project for a courthouse in Long Beach.

However, the Sutter County project still faces other hurdles, she said, namely the state budget process and whether a bond sale to raise money for construction will go through.

If the courthouse begins work next summer as planned, it would be finished by late 2014, according to the administrative office's website.

Sutter County District Attorney Carl Adams said he's hopeful the project stays on its timeline, given the challenges his office has with the existing court buildings on Second Street in Yuba City.

"Everything is related to space," he said, explaining because of a lack of room, the courts don't have ideal security, conference rooms for attorneys to meet with witnesses, holding rooms for defendants and other features.

Sutter County has court functions in three buildings, two owned by the county and one leased. The two county-owned buildings date to 1904 and 1962.

Although he said his office is looking forward to the new courthouse, Adams said, its opening will create other problems.

The building isn't planned to have any room for the district attorney or county probation offices, meaning those will still be on Second Street, miles from the new courthouse.

"Like a lot of counties, in Sutter County we don't have enough money to build a new building for those departments," Adams said.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.