The official groundbreaking of the $8.2 million combined court house project took place Monday at the construction site next to the Montezuma County jail and sheriff’s office, just west of N. Park Street near E. Empire St.. From left are Judge JenniLynn Lawrence, Chief Probation Officer Sonia Buffington, Court Administrator Eric Hogue, County Commissioner Larry Don Suckla, County Commissioner Keenan Ertel, County Commissioner James Lambert, Judge Doug Walker, and Owner’s Representative Monty Guiles. The new 29,000-square-foot government building will house district and county courts, the court clerk and records department and the probation department. A public auditorium with a kiva-inspired design will be available for meetings and events. Construction is expected to take one year.

The official groundbreaking of the $8.2 million combined court house project took place Monday at the construction site next to the Montezuma County jail and sheriff’s office. From left are Judge JenniLynn Lawrence, Chief Probation Officer Sonia Buffington, Court Administrator Eric Hogue, County Commissioner Larry Don Suckla, County Commissioner Keenan Ertel, County Commissioner James Lambert, Judge Doug Walker, and Owner’s Representative Monty Guiles. The new 29,000-square-foot government building will house district and county courts, the court clerk and records department and the probation department. A public auditorium with a kiva-inspired design will be available for meetings and events. Construction is expected to take one year.