Irwindale : Court Facility to Be Studied

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday temporarily suspended negotiations on a proposed dependency court satellite facility in Irwindale while county analysts study whether the county should consolidate such courts.

The board approved the delay 3 to 0, with Supervisor Kenneth Hahn absent and Supervisor Pete Schabarum abstaining. Schabarum declined to vote, saying he questions the financial wisdom of building a large dependency court headquarters and that small facilities such as the satellite should move forward.

But Supervisor Ed Edelman argued that dependency judges have told the county that they are pressed for space and need more facilities, both large and small.

The board also asked county staff to submit a report on possible new sites for a proposed dependency courthouse headquarters. It has been proposed for construction in Alhambra but is being fought by Alhambra city officials.

City officials have challenged the county’s claims that the new facility, which would also include county administration and maintenance offices, would bring additional revenues to the city because of the 1,300 county employees who would shop and eat in the area.