Family Courts Building Would Require Bond Issue

Members of the St. Louis County Council showed unanimous support on Tuesday for a resolution supporting construction of a new .

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday that council members have begun the process of putting a $100 million bond issue on the April ballot to build a new family courts building and to refurbish the St. Louis County Courts Building.

County Council Chairman Steve Stenger (D-South St. Louis County) told the Post-Dispatch that a resolution expressing support for the project is the first step to getting the measure on the ballot. That resolution passed the council Tuesday without opposition.

Councilwoman Hazel Erby (D-University City) said in an interview after the council meeting that it is time to replace the family courts building. The structure is not sufficient to handle cases that usually involve children, she said.

“The conditions where the children are kept when they are in custody in courts—it’s close quarters,” Erby said. “It’s dangerous, and I’m supportive" of building a new facility.

In 2008, a St. Louis County bond issue that would have included a family courts building and courthouse improvements failed to capture enough votes to move forward. Asked if the proposal on the table will be successful, Erby said, "Hopefully we can convey to the voters that there is a need.”

She added: “So I’m hopeful."

The bond initiative would need to receive 57.15 percent of the vote to pass.