Where did that come from?

That’s what some LaPorte County residents are saying today as they learn that their county court house will be undergoing extensive renovation. Recently the outside of the old court house was cleaned up but there was very little, if any, warning that the interior of the building would be undergoing serious multi-floor work.

While I’m not here to debate the merits of the renovation, I don’t know enough about the structural integrity of the building to judge that, it is a little surprising that even county employees were unaware of such a project until it was announced by a county commissioner on the radio this morning. Where did the county get the money for this project? Who signed off on the project? And why was there word that the decision was made just last night? These are just some questions that need to be answered. In the end, it may be that there are plausible and justifiable answers to each of these questions, but a little more transparency in dealing with large projects like this may be a good idea in the future.