The Tazewell County Board is trying to come up with an official name for the most expensive building in county history, but the effort has been unsuccessful so far.
The $44 million Tazewell County Justice Center Annex under construction on Court Street next to the Justice Center in downtown Pekin is expected to open in July 2027.
Four options for an official name for the three-story, 79,000-square-foot annex were presented to the board during Wednesday's meeting.
The names brought forward were based on the results of a survey filled out by board members and elected officials who will have offices in the new building:
- Tazewell County Law & Justice Complex
- Tazewell County Law & Courts Building
- Tazewell County Judicial Complex/Annex/Center/Building
- Abraham Lincoln Center for Law and Justice
Other possible names were added to the mix during a 15-minute discussion among board members and elected officials. With no consensus reached, the board decided to table a decision until its August meeting.
The biggest issue is whether to have Tazewell County or Abraham Lincoln in the new building's name. Compelling arguments were made by both sides.
Board member Nick Graff having Lincoln in the name "will confuse people to no end," because people often refer to area courthouses by the city in which they're located.
"Our courthouse is known as the 'Pekin courthouse.' The Peoria County Courthouse is known as the 'Peoria courthouse.' The Logan County courthouse is known as the 'Lincoln courthouse,'" Graff said.
"Like it or not, the word Abraham will eventually be dropped from whatever we call the annex if we go that route, and it will be the Lincoln whatever.
"If there wasn't a Lincoln courthouse 30 miles away in Lincoln, I wouldn't be opposed to naming our building after Lincoln.
"We could name the courtrooms in the building after presidents if we want."
Board member Max Schneider echoed Graff's thoughts.
"We run the risk of confusing people if we have Lincoln in the name," he said. "That's why we need to have Tazewell County in the name."
County Clerk Linc Hobson, who will work in the new building, had two name suggestions.
"Justice Center Annex, that's really original," he said sarcastically. "How about the Tazewell County Criminal Courts Building? Those courts will be in that building. That will make it clear to the public what's in there."
The building will contain three criminal courtrooms and the state's attorney, circuit clerk and probation offices. Each will move from the courthouse across the street.
There also will be a tunnel that connects the building with the county jail in the Justice Center.
Board members Eric Stahl and Jon Hopkins led the charge to name the building after Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, because of his many ties to Tazewell County.
"There are places with no ties to Lincoln that honor him," Stahl said. "This is an opportunity for a brag moment for Tazewell County, which is kind of rare.
"Naming the building after Lincoln would add some gravitas to it for the county's taxpayers, who are paying $40 million for this project."
Hopkins said during the year the U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday as a nation, "we have a great opportunity and a big moment to nail this naming."
"No offense, we love Tazewell County, but do we need to stack that name onto another county building?" Hopkins said.
Board member Russ Crawford offered a compromise name that he believes both sides will support.
"How about the Lincoln Court Center?" he said.
Funding for the new building is coming from $19 million in American Rescue Plan Act [ARPA] money and county reserves.
