By 2005, Coweta County residents

will be able to handle all their judicial needs in a brand new court complex.

That's the verdict from Tuesday night's commission meeting, as the Coweta

County Commission gave unanimous approval to building a new $30 million

judicial center.

Now that the commission has decided not to renovate existing facilities,

the county will start looking for sites in downtown Newnan and determining

how to pay for the facility.

Consultant Joe Gardner recommended the board use a combination of funding

options. He suggested a 50-50 split between a special purpose local option

sales tax and a bond.

While the commissioners did not comment about the funding, they were adamant

that any site would have to be able to handle an expansion.

Gardner's projections for the new center show it being at capacity in

2010 and Commissioner Lawrence Nelms didn't like

the idea of it being bursting at the seams shortly after it opens.

"That's like putting trailers around a new school," he said.

Commissioner Robert Wood agreed and said the design of the new facility

should be modular so that any expansion in the future could fit easily

onto the site.

Another recommendation of Gardner's was that all probate court functions

be placed in the existing historic courthouse.

But commission Chairman Vernon "Mutt" Hunter said he wanted

to see figures on how much it would cost to get the

old building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The county is currently at odds with federal officials because disabled

jurors have difficulty reaching the courtroom on the second floor.

The other commissioners agreed and said ultimately the old courthouse

may serve more for community functions than court proceedings.

The commission gave approval for Gardner's firm to come up with a cost

proposal for design and engineering costs for the project.