A change in location for Pullman City Hall will likely affect where Pullman residents go for district court hearings.

Currently, Whitman County holds district court hearings two days a week in Pullman City Hall. With the planned move to a new location, city officials have yet to determine where those cases will be held.

Roughly 40 percent of all district court cases come from Pullman, City Administrator Adam Lincoln said. Because of this, it is in the best interest of Pullman residents to keep two days of district court within the city limits, and in the best interest of the county to use the space Pullman provides.

Nathan Weller, a member of Pullman City Council, said officials know the issue is important to residents.

“The city council, myself included, know and understand it’s an important part of access for people here in Pullman,” he said. “I very much trust our staff at the city and the plans that have been created.”

Determining where to hold district court is one of the challenges that result from growth, Weller said.

“The major point,” he said, “is to find a solution.”

In the past, Whitman County had an agreement with the city allowing the county the space for district court at city hall in exchange for handling certain traffic and other small offenses. City officials look to “modernize” the agreement, Lincoln said.

Council members still wait to find out the cost of making additions to hold district court at the new city hall location.

The new location will already require somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000 in deferred maintenance before it is ready for use, Lincoln said.

City officials may also consider other locations in Pullman, including the Gladish Community and Cultural Center, Lincoln said. Regardless of where they hold court, there will not be any changes until 2020.

“The biggest goal is that the court remain in Pullman,” he said.