Funds for new Utah courthouse approved
Senate appropriators approved a $211 million request Thursday to build a new federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, had asked for the funding.
"This project is a prime example of a shovel-ready project that will bring hundreds of jobs to Utah and give a much-needed boost to our economy," Bennett said. He added that it could bring an estimated 700 jobs to Utah for the next three years.
"The project has been in the works for several years and now we are a step closer to securing the funds needed to meet the vastly growing needs of our state's judiciary system," he said.
The earmark was included at Bennett's request in the annual Financial Services Appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed it Thursday and sent it to the full Senate. Bennett is the only Utah member of Congress who serves on an appropriations committee.
The new courthouse will be adjacent to the Frank E. Moss Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Tenants will include the district court, probation and pretrial services and the U.S. Marshal's Office.
When the new courthouse is built, the existing Moss Courthouse will be renovated and will house bankruptcy judges, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Trustee's Office.
The General Services Administration has told Congress the project will provide $105 million in construction salaries over three years, providing an estimated 716 jobs for each of the three years of construction.
Bennett's office said the expansion project has been envisioned for 17 years. In 1992, the court submitted a formal written request to the GSA for an annex to the Moss Courthouse.
But by 1998, the district court's docket had increased so much that officials determined that a renovation and annex would not be enough to meet needs. Also, studies showed that renovation of the Moss Courthouse was unsuitable for a District Court because of security concerns and a space squeeze that would not allow adequate courtroom sizes.
So plans were revised to build an entirely new courthouse.
e-mail: lee@desnews.com
Recent comments
To Hey: The Matheson Courthouse is for the Utah state courts, and it...
Ace | July 12, 2009 at 7:03 p.m.
We appreciate your efforts, Sen. Bennett!
And, love your new...
Thank you! | July 10, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.
I thought the Matheson Court House was more than sufficient. I guess...
Hey | July 10, 2009 at 6:41 p.m.
- Utes pound winless Lobos 7:38 p.m.
- Panel discusses sex-ed curriculum 7:23 p.m.
- Too early to end stimulus? 7:09 p.m.
- HUD combats discrimination 7:07 p.m.
- APEC leaders push for new plan 7:05 p.m.
- Ute hoop defense does job 6:49 p.m.
- 9-year-old boy shot 6:17 p.m.
- Refinery explosion caused by leak 6:13 p.m.
- Police: Van with immigrants rolls 6:13 p.m.
- Science Day at University wows 5:27 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
204 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Letters: Care not a right
187 - Lobo suspended
170 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Jazz stumble in fourth quarter
106 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Prep football: San Juan vs. S. Sevier
102 - Thousands protest health bill
98 - Provo company innovating engines
97
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
I'm the guy who wrote at 12:31, and I've been rereading my post and trying to...
Calling on ALL Cougar Alumni: Today the A.D. at Boise State put out a...
Back in the 19th century, someone (I think it was a NYC fire chief) said that...
So you are against mandatory car insurance too? You don't want all those...
This debate on whether or not The Flyers can beat the 5A schools is...
BYU should have lost this game on purpose and they should lose all the rest...
News to you........You can't stop our passing game! If we jump on you early,...
Yea, Moose...Boise State won their game and they are going to need help from...
Anyone know how many penalties were called? Had to be about 30.
"Jake Locker of UW almost singlehandedly beat BYU last year w his...

