Hood River County is starting to plan for the future of the County Courthouse. County officials are beginning to look into a program from the Oregon Department of Justice that provides for appropriations for courthouse improvements. County Administrator David Meriwether says an architectural analysis by the state eight years ago put the Hood River County Courthouse 46th out of 48 similar facilities. Meriwether says they hope to secure funds in the 2017 Legislative session for an analysis of the County’s courthouse needs. The courthouse was built in 1954. Meriwether says the County will initially ask the state for $350,000 to $500,000 for design costs.