Bentonville City Council Approves .65 Million Purchase of Benton County Courts Building
Bentonville City Council has given its unanimous approval to purchase the Division VI circuit court property from Benton County for .65 million.
This purchase forms part of the county’s plan to fund its expansion of the criminal justice system. The approved ordinance will see the city buying the 0.6-acre property, which includes the building at 221 S. Main St. and an adjacent 24-car parking lot.
The sale is a significant step forward for Benton County as it strives to build two new circuit court facilities at its Juvenile Justice Center. The property in question will be sold to help raise funds for this expansion project, which is estimated to cost over .8 million.
Moreover, the county is also seeking to acquire another circuit court judge position in the 2025 Arkansas legislative session. This new judge will be elected in 2026 and sworn in on January 1, 2027. The two new courtrooms are planned to house the Division II Circuit Court judge and the new judge, who will have a mostly criminal court docket.
In anticipation of the sale, the Benton County Quorum Court has already approved an ordinance authorizing the sale. The sale also marks progress in the county’s plan to relocate the Division VI Circuit Court to the first floor of the county Administration Building.
Additionally, Benton County Judge Barry Moehring has pointed out the dire need for more criminal court facilities. He has emphasized that the current Division II court facility is antiquated and undersized, and the additional judge will further stretch the existing infrastructure.
This sale not only represents a major milestone in the county’s expansion plans but also highlights the efforts being made to improve the criminal justice system in Benton County.
