Gov. Daniels fills Courthouse commission

Indiana DNR Release:

Gov. Mitch Daniels and Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard have announced the appointment of the Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission that will advise county officials on caring for Indiana’s historic courthouses and provide recommendations on how they may be preserved.

Gov. Daniels named Shepard to serve as commission chair and the following to fill positions as specified in the 2008 law: Ron Ross, Fort Wayne, as licensed architect; Fritz Herget, Indianapolis, professional engineer; Diana Hawes, Bloomington, architectural historian; Kathy Beumer, Randolph County, county commissioner member; Brad Bumgardner, executive director of the Parke County Community Foundation, local community foundation representative; and David Decker, Terre Haute, Association of Indiana Counties member.

Ex officio members are Shepard, Dr. James A. Glass, director of the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology; Marsh Davis, president of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; and David Terrell, executive director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Shepard also will appoint a judge of a county, superior, or circuit court to the commission.

“The commission will play an important role in increasing access to reliable information about how to preserve these important symbols of our communities,” Gov. Daniels said.

Shepard said, “We anticipate providing such advice and building public awareness of the many possibilities for continued use and enjoyment of these distinguished landmarks.”

Upon request, the commission will provide county officials with assessments of historic courthouse conditions, technical advice on rehabilitation projects to encourage appropriate preservation practices, recommendations on architectural and engineering plans for rehabilitation, and information concerning funding sources for such projects.

The commission also will submit a report to the Indiana General Assembly by August 2011 that assesses the importance of preserving historic courthouses to the history, identity and economic revitalization of county seats and counties; investigates the need for rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance of historic courthouses; studies the condition of such courthouses; and studies the needs of county officials in planning for the successful restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance of historic courthouses.

The commission’s first meeting is April 8, at 1:30 p.m., in conference room 5, Indiana Government Center South, Indianapolis.