New courthouse a possibility in Manti

A recent land acquisition by the State of Utah in Manti may eventually lead to a new courthouse.  Manti City recently sold the old downtown MIBA building site to the State for $120,000.  At the time of the sale, City Recorder Kent Barton said the State had chosen not to disclose what the property would be used for.  But according to Marilee Richins from the State Department of Administrative Services, the purchase was to begin gathering property for a new Sixth District courthouse.  The project is in the preliminary stages and hasn’t been presented to the Legislature for funding, but preliminary plans include a 28,000 square foot facility that would house the district and juvenile courts, as well as offices for the Guardian ad Litem and juvenile probation.  Communications Director with the Utah State Courts Geoffrey Fattah said the old courthouse is over 100 years old and a new building will provide much better security and operational standards.