A committee of the Vermilion County Board is backing a proposal to name the courthouse the ‘Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse’. But while more than a dozen supporters of the Illinois Supreme Court Justice packed the meeting in support of Justice Garman…some County Board members asked ‘’what’s the rush?’’ County Board member Kevin Green is one of them noting there are plans to have a newly-named committee set strict criteria for the future naming of county buildings.
The original proposal was to name the courthouse the ‘Rita B. Garman Criminal Justice Center’…but the committee instead recommended the ‘Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse.’ Committee member Chad Turner reacted to the change.
‘’I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with it. I mean there’s other justice centers and courthouses in other counties named after people. And there’s police public safety buildings and everything else,’’ said Turner. ‘’I can’t see why anybody would have a problem with naming something after someone who has dedicated their entire public and professional career to a county that is now honoring her with a building.’’
County Board Chairman Mike Marron read a statement before the vote from State Representative Chad Hays.
‘’Justice Rita Garman has soared to heights never before achieved in our county. She has done it with grace and dignity and with an intellect and scholarship that is rare and extraordinary.’’
Marron said any monuments honoring the former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court would be funded using private funds. And speaking of Justice Garman, Marron added: ‘’I don’t think people like this come along very often.’’
Although the Property Committee is recommending naming the building the ‘Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse’…the full County Board could vote to call it the ‘Rita B. Garman Criminal Justice Center’.
