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Dixon County officials outline plans to replace 140-year-old courthouse

Board held informational meetings on funding and design options

DIXON COUNTY, Neb. (KTIV) - The Dixon County Board of Supervisors held a series of informational meetings Monday, August 24, to update residents on plans to replace the county courthouse, which is more than 140 years old.

Courthouse lacks space, accessibility

The courthouse, built in the late 1800s, has limited space and is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Mark Shepard, a client advisor with BVH Architecture. Shepard said those conditions give county supervisors the authority, and a mandate, to enact a local property tax levy to fund a replacement.

“So the maximum amount is 12 and a half million for this project and it’s really based on they’re looking at the statutory reference where it allows and actually mandates counties in Nebraska to take care of their facilities. It gives them the opportunity through a 5.2 cent maximum tax levy with a maximum time frame of 20 years for payback,” Shepard said.

Previous bond issue failed

Shepard said the public told supervisors that including a jail as part of the courthouse was a major reason a $20 million bond issue failed in 2024. He said the county has since decided to work with a neighboring county to house inmates, but the need for new facilities remains.

“So they feel like that’s a good mechanism to continue to move forward with, but at the same time they still have to have a building to meet all the other services. Courts in particular are a real challenge in how they deal with the courtroom without accessibility, but also just safety and security for everybody involved in a trial,” Shepard said.

Plans, timeline

The public viewed plans for the new building, which could be built on land near the county annex building in Ponca. The new building would have an estimated lifespan of at least 50 years.

County representatives said they are working with a construction company to finalize designs. The projected completion date for the new courthouse is May 2028.

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