Hollister is one step closer to having a new courthouse, but its
location still is not determined.
Hollister is one step closer to having a new courthouse, but its location still is not determined.
Two agreements were approved unanimously by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, laying out costs and timelines for the building of a new courthouse. While the memoranda of understanding allows seismic testing at the Fremont School property downtown to start immediately, it’s not the guaranteed site.
“We’re moving ahead with what we committed to the community to do,” said County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson. “It all depends on the trenching.”
According to the agreement, construction of the new 36,000-square-foot building should start on February 19, 2010, at the community’s preferred location downtown, pending results of seismic tests and the state’s approval of the project.
The City of Hollister agreed to test the Fremont School site fully for active faults that might make it dangerous for the building occupants in the event of an earthquake. The study, which must be finished no later than November 15, was authorized to start Monday morning and a result should be expected within the next few weeks, Thompson said.
The agreement between the city and San Benito County determined the amount that Hollister will sell the property located at 335 West St. for $1,370,000 pending approval by the state. If the state does not approve the purchase and construction of the courthouse downtown, the determined amount will be directed toward the construction at Flynn Road, near the county jail.
