Lauderdale County needs better courthouse space

I lived in Lauderdale county most of my life before moving to the Tampa area in 2015.

In the business of relocating, I noticed a few things different than Lauderdale County. The business side of Hillsborough County has separate buildings and even locations for the criminal side of county business. I’m not sure about the chancery, but getting tags, business licenses, etc., there was no visual evidence that the criminal business of the county was anywhere around the location.

The buildings are also ground level entrances, mostly with one floor.

I am not comparing Meridian to Tampa by any means. My developed community has more people than Meridian, and the high school is an 8-A, but the opportunity to create a building for the business side, and another location for the criminal side would seem to work in Lauderdale County. I know many attorneys have sought to have property near the courthouse – but they will get paid to walk or drive a few extra blocks.

Meridian/ Lauderdale County needs a one story building with a parking lot to handle the business side of the county for its citizens.

Scott Jay

Hillsborough County, Florida

Thoughts on courthouse, Meridian football coach

Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson wants to move just one time. Tax Collector Doris Spidle doesn’t like the courthouse and believes it should be reused for something else although she doesn’t define what or why the taxpayers should pay to repair It for some unknown purpose. Some say, “We all want to be together.” Some taxpayers say, “Join the country club or get a skybox.”

Supreme Judge Griffis hopes for a fine new building for that special place where peoples’ freedom is taken away from them.

It seems that in consideration of all comments, all they’re asking for is a stately structure that is safe and big enough where we can all be together and just move one time. Is that too much to ask for? Maybe money.

At Meridian High School, If I support Athletic Director Chuck Butler’s logic for a $95,000 salary for the head football coach, I must believe that to insure a safe community the and given the pressures of law enforcement, we must allow for hefty pay increases for the police chief and sheriff as they also have 150 people to manage.

Mr. Butler’s school of thought if applied to each and every taxpayer funded position based upon job pressure could be astronomical or maybe those under pressure could sign up for a yoga class.

Bill Heidelberg

Meridian