I’m not one to cash the check before it is signed, but it appears Utah’s 6th District courthouse in Manti is coming more and more into focus.
Several years ago, Manti City sold a piece of property to the state courts for the purpose of building a new, state-owned courthouse. A new state courthouse in the county seat will enable Sanpete County to fully occupy the historic county-owned courthouse on Main Street in Manti.
The new state courthouse has been an effort of many, many people. Over the years, the prospects for a state-owned courthouse have been misunderstood, opposed and voted against. But now, the project is finally approved.
I am grateful to all the county commissioners, judges, sheriffs and county attorneys over the years who have shouldered this effort.
For the years I served as a county commissioner, I saw their efforts firsthand. I recognize and thank the past commissioners, including Commissioner and now Gov. Spencer Cox for his untiring effort to make this state courthouse a reality.
I am grateful to Speaker Brad Wilson, Rep. Brad Last, Sen. Don Ipson, Sen. Evan Vickers, all of whom serve on the Utah Executive Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Derrin Owens, the main backer, for shepherding this appropriation through.
Both Speaker Wilson and Rep. Last made the effort to tour the current Sanpete County Courthouse. I am grateful to Sherriff Jared Buchanan, former Sheriff Brian Nielson, former Sanpete County Attorney Brody Keisel, and current Sanpete County Attorneys Kevin Daniels, Wes Mangum and Arek Butler for taking time to guide visiting legislative leaders through the Sanpete County Courthouse.
As commissioners and legislators, along with the state court facilities personnel, we testified before committees and hosted as many legislators as were willing to come and see the great need Sanpete County had to reclaim its courthouse and the state had to build its own.
I’m grateful to Manti City for their hard work, support and insistence on a building that would fit into the genre and landscape of the city.
The money has been prioritized, approved and appropriated. With a high degree of certainty, I believe construction of a new 6th District Courthouse will begin soon.
What does that mean for the Sanpete County Courthouse? It means that Sanpete County can become more efficient in serving the people of Sanpete County.
Sanpete County is growing fast and needs more room to efficiently function. Moving the 6th District Court into its own facility will make the Sanpete County historic courthouse a safer and more enjoyable environment for conducting the business of the people.
On a separate note, as I witness the Ukraine crisis from afar, I am dismayed. Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Ukraine. I also humbly thank the brave men and women and their families from Utah who have been deployed to the eastern flank of NATO in Europe. God bless and thank you for your service.
Your voice is important to me. Please continue reaching out!
