BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – With nearly 18 months in delays and big losses of taxpayers' money due to unforeseen costs and mistakes, moving day is finally coming for the new Broward County courthouse.
"It's a beautiful building, it's ready to go," Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen said.
The Broward Sheriff's Office is scheduled to begin the massive transition from the old courthouse next door on Saturday when deputies will begin the week-long process of moving its control room, according to county records.
Later this month, the state attorney's office and the judiciary will begin moving its units into the new building, a process that is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.
The building is expected to be opened to the public on Jan. 2, and people will finally get a chance to get inside the building on which they have spent an estimated $345 million.
"After hearing about the years of problems with this building, it is great to finally be able to say that Broward residents will have access to this courthouse in less than 30 days and it will become operational," Bogen said.
The Clerk of Courts and court administration offices will continue the move-in through January and February, with the move, according to county records, expected to be concluded on March 10.
The announcement couldn't come soon enough for the State Attorney's Office and other courthouse employees who have complained that mold in the old building is making them sick. Some SAO units have moved to offices in a high-rise building across the street to get away from what they said are toxic work conditions.
One major reason for the long delay was a massive flood caused by a burst toilet pipe that occurred during a long weekend and flooded three floors. That incident has some people concerned that the new building will have mold, but the county said the building has been properly cleaned up and any environmental issues have been remediated.
"That's nobody's fault as far as I know," Bogen said. "It was taken care of by the county."
But still left unresolved are nearly $20 million in disputed and unforeseen costs involving the contractor, architect and other companies. Bogen said he intends to hold all those responsible accountable to protect taxpayers.
"We will be holding those vendors and those accountable for those overruns," he said.