GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Hall County will issue bonds to pay for a major renovation and expansion to the county's 120-year-old courthouse.
 
Early in Tuesday’s Hall County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Gary Quandt made a motion to have a public hearing regarding the courthouse addition. He said taxpayers have been left out of this decision. However, the motion failed 5-2.
 
The commissioners also voted to issue bonds not exceeding $40 million to pay the costs of constructing addictions, renovations and improvements to the courthouse. Commissioners voted 5-2 with Quandt and Karen Bredthauer voting against it. 
 
The commissioners have been working on the project for more than a year and are keeping the cost under $40 million in order to avoid a public vote on the matter.