Burlington project moves forward

Published 12:50 pm Friday, June 19, 2015

BURLINGTON — Almost a week after the kickoff for the Burlington Courthouse fundraiser on Saturday, pledges and donations keep coming in.

Right now there is almost $9,000 in a checking account and $10,000 in pledges including $5,000 from St. Mary’s Medical Center and $1,000 each from two members of the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce — Spectrum Outreach and Citizens Deposit bank.

The goal of the project is to build a replica of the first courthouse in the county, which was in Burlington. The site is near the Burlington Commons park and will be used as a community building. The building and the park could be rented together for outings.

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The courthouse, along with parking spaces and sidewalks, is expected to cost $250,000. Approximately 40 percent of that cost will come from Community Development Block Grants.

Commissioner Bill Pratt would like to take $40,000 from a recent gift of $250,000 to the county to add to the project. If that were possible, it would mean 60 percent of the project would be covered.

The distribution of that gift is expected to be decided by the commission in the next few weeks.