FRANKLIN COUNTY (WSIL)-- Emotions ran high at Friday's special Franklin County Board meeting.
Tax payers voiced their concerns about the price-tag of the courthouse project.
One Franklin County resident, Rocky Morris, says he's not happy after learning the county board admitted the cost went up.
Morris says, "We voted on something that turned different, so that's really why we came."
Morris tells us he voted no twice when it was first on the ballot, but finally voted yes because of the condition of the building.
"I think a lot of people began to say, okay, we'll go with this, so when you go with something that you're told and then it seems like it got changed somewhere along the line after your vote," says Morris.
Chairman Randall Crocker just wants the public to know, despite a $1 million increase in project costs, the plan to have a one percent sales tax increase for 15 years remains the same.
Right now, crews are working to re-purpose the basement of the Campbell Building to act as a temporary courthouse.
Crocker explains, "I think this entire county should be proud of that we took an old building that needed to re-purpose I think we've done a great job."
But, Morris believes the county doesn't need a courthouse after touring the Campbell Building.
He adds,"The big question is that we felt. Do we need a court house now because all of our court stuff are now moved in the Campbell building."
Crocker says the county needs to build a fully functioning courthouse. "By the Illinois Supreme Court your standard of ceilings need to be 14 feet high. We have about 8 feet high," Crocker explains.
Crocker says the project is on schedule and taxpayers like Morris, just hope the project doesn't hurt the county economically.
Chairman Randall Crocker tells us he welcomes anyone to tour the Campbell Building and see the changes.
The board still has to make a final decision on the floor plan of the new courthouse with the architects.
That date has not been finalized.
