Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@currentargus.com

Upgrading the current Eddy County Courthouse looks to be the favored option as the county moves toward a new administration complex and jail.

Since April, Eddy County has grappled with what to do with courthouse operations after approving a new administration building and jail south of Carlsbad on Corrales Road across from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. County officials had considered several possibilities, including construction of a new courthouse for $279 million and expansion of the current facility for $310 million.

But a proposal to spend $15 million for a courthouse makeover featuring new exterior stucco and windows plus improvements for heating, air conditioning and plumbing emerged during an Oct. 15 meeting of the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.

That plan and two others were presented to commissioners and residents by Jason Burns, the county’s public works director, during a townhall meeting Wednesday (Oct. 23) at the Eddy County Fire Services office in Carlsbad.

Fifth Judicial District Judge Lisa Riley, who had stated opposition to moving the courthouse during an April 24 townhall meeting, said she liked the makeover option.

“It will maintain our beautiful, historic, iconic courthouse and it will maintain the seat of the courts as part of our local government … I think that’s what the community has voiced it wants and that’s what the judges want as well,” Riley said.

Riley was opposed to moving courthouse functions away from downtown Carlsbad to the southern part of the community, which is seeing a growth of industrial development.

“It’s not an appropriate place to have a courthouse,” she said. “Courthouses have traditionally been in the heart of the town. They are local government. They are where the local judges administer justice to our local citizens using local juries and they should not be relegated to an industrial section of town.”

Savannah Cabezuela, Eddy County spokesperson, said remodeling the courthouse gives county leaders a five-year window to see what the future holds for the county and the current structure. She said commissioners could make a final decision Nov. 5.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com