New course decided on new digs for judge

For 90 minutes this morning, Oconee County Council met to try to resolve the mess that has arisen over plans to re-locate the county magistrate at Westminster into quarters more suitable and to avoid what one councilman calls “inexcusable” to the court officers and the public using the magistrate’s office.  A 3 to 2 vote by the county fathers will, in part, reverse the recent decision to sell the former church building, which earlier had been seen as the solution to the judge’s needs.  The council now wants new numbers on what it would take to demolish the former Gospel Tabernacle and build anew.  They also want to know if the city of Westminster owns property which could be used. After being told that the Westminster City Council believes 1606 E. Main remains the best spot for the project, county councilmen this morning second-guessed and expressed regret that the county before now hasn’t provided Magistrate Will Derrick a replacement office and courtroom.  Derrick’s current quarters next to the city police station are so small that at times, juries must go outside and brave the elements while deciding someone’s fate. The first-term county councilman, Matthew Durham, maintained at today’s meeting taxpayers are the victims when the county buys one piece of property, decides against using it, and decides to re-sell it.  Both county councilmen Davis and Cain, especially Paul Cain, took umbrage at Durham’s use of the word “deception”.  Earlier the county shied away converting the former church into a judge’s office because of the condition of the building and the cost to renovate.  Councilman Julian Davis, Westminster’s representative to the county governing board, said his analysis of the project indicates that, in the long run, it would pay the county to build new.