The design phase of a $12.14 million judicial center to house all three Jackson County courts is entering its final chapter.

Bids for that project, which involves the construction of a new building to be known as the Jackson County Judicial Center at 109 S. Sugar St., are scheduled to be accepted in April with a completion date of no later than November 2018.

The two-story center is the result of a decision to organize Jackson Superior Court II on Jan. 1, 2008. At the time, that court was in the meeting room of the courthouse annex in Brownstown, Jackson County Council member Brian Thompson said. He is also a member of the building committee.

Jackson Superior Court II, presided over by Judge Bruce MacTavish, continues to meet in that same room nine years