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Mr. Masi strongly opposed marketing the building and felt it <br />could be used to set up a project in which disabled people can do <br />some work that will turn a profit. He wanted to give the ad hoc <br />committee an opportunity to revisit the subject and asked that the <br />Board table any action until that committee can meet and submit <br />further recommendations. <br />Commissioner Macht commented that nothing in the motion <br />prohibits private development of the courthouse. <br />Janie Gould, President of The Historical Society, stressed <br />that The Historical Society is not interested in saving every old <br />building but believes restoration of the old courthouse would <br />contribute to revitalization of the downtown area. She asked the <br />Board to please reconvene the ad hoc committee and to postpone <br />getting demolition estimates. Ms. Gould offered the assistance of <br />The Historical Society in anyway possible. <br />Robert Orth, now residing in Alaska, noted a project which had <br />begun about 2 months ago in Pueblo, Colorado, somewhat like the <br />Goodwill operation, where federal, state and local grants became <br />available. He felt that such a project could pay for itself 'within, <br />2 years. His idea was to teach fly tieing to handicapped <br />individuals and have them work in the old courthouse building. <br />There has been a 500% increase in the fly fishing industry in the <br />last few years, and he believed funding would be easier to obtain <br />if there were a specific project being proposed. <br />Commissioner Eggert commented that putting the physically <br />handicapped in these buildings would be very dangerous. In the old <br />courthouse there is only 1 door to the second floor and it would be <br />impossible for them to get down from the second floor in an <br />emergency. There is also a real problem with mildew and she would <br />not want to ask anyone at all to go into these buildings for any <br />length of time. She realized there is a real frustration on the <br />part of anyone wishing to see something done with these buildings <br />but it has been estimated to cost from $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 <br />just to restore the old courthouse alone. <br />Chairman Adams commended Mr. Orth's proposal of an excellent <br />project and encouraged him to pursue the idea which could obviously <br />be done in any surplus building. <br />THE CHAIRMAN CALLED THE QUESTION and the <br />Motion passed unanimously. <br />SEPTEMBE <br />R 17, 1996 4 9 73 <br />