OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Metropolitan Utilities District Board voted unanimously Wednesday to accept Douglas County's $6 million offer for its downtown headquarters. The building near 17th and Harney would be renovated as a courthouse annex and will be used for other justice-related services.
“This is the first step, but a key step, in helping us begin the process of changing the quality of life for children and families in Douglas County,” said Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers. “I want to thank MUD for partnering with us on this project and for their courage to see what this project means for the future of Douglas County residents.”
The original plan for a new juvenile justice center was to use the Perrin Building at 18th and Howard but the owner Bob Perrin fought the county in court and refused to give up his property. Now the county could use the MUD building as a part of the juvenile justice center.
Commissioner Clare Duda says he thinks once the county closes on the MUD building, they should allow Perrin to keep his building. Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson told 3 News Now it's too soon to make a decision.
Perrin still thinks the county will try and take his building.
"They've started the quest to buy as much land around the courthouse as possible so that's why I'm concerned they're going to continue to go ahead and take my property, just for future development," says Perrin.
