Otero County Courthouse to remain downtown

At its regular meeting Feb. 13, the Otero County Commission voted by a two-to-one margin to keep the Otero County Courthouse at the same location in downtown Alamogordo.

"My own opinion is I am in support of keeping the courthouse downtown," Otero County Commission Chairman Gerald Matherly said. "I've had several businessmen call and talk to me and give me their opinions and they are afraid of what will happen to the downtown area if we move (the courthouse)."

Otero County Commission Vice-Chairwoman Lori Bies agreed. 

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"We had meetings through the previous (county) commission and got input from the courts and the citizens and those who came to speak with us and the general consensus was, even back then, was to keep it downtown. The options that we have for downtown is a whole other subject."

More:County courthouse discussion at impasse

The dissenting vote was cast by District 2 County Commissioner Couy Griffin who said the Courthouse would be better located near the Otero County Detention Center.

"I would like to see all options to be considered. My No. 1 position is feasibility and the future," Griffin said.

"If it's to remain here or if it's, maybe, to go outside. But to limit our options in that, I think, is unfair and I sure wouldn't agree with it. Because it's the taxpayers that's going to pay for this building."

Griffin said he wants to look at all possibilities and costs for building a courthouse structure.

Commissioners heard from Asa Architects at the Jan. 28 special meeting where courthouse feasibility study findings were presented. Several options were discussed, but just one — to keep the original building and upgrade it and then add structures —was an option officials said because of limited funding for the project. 

More:'It all comes down to money.' Otero County receives courthouse update

Otero County owns land near the detention center which Griffin said he would like used as a location for a new courthouse.

Local business owner Michael Shyne once wanted to see the Courthouse moved to that site, and even offered a donation of up to 20 acres of additional land in 2016. But on Thursday Shyne backpedaled on that position.

"I'm here to ask you to, please, disregard my offer," Shyne said. "I would be the one who would profit more than anybody else if you built (the courthouse) out there, please, don't."

He cited concern that Alamogordo's downtown businesses would lose customers, specifically the Courthouse's personnel and visitors who frequent the courthouse daily.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter.