Genk (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The justice of the peace office in Genk temporarily relocated to Bitzen due to roof leaks causing electrical damage. Hearings will resume in Genk on November 1 with plans for a new facility by autumn 2025.
Last summer the justice of the peace office in Genk faced big problems because of a leak in the roof. The water damaged the electricity box creating safety hazards and they had to move their operations. Repairing the damage was too expensive so they temporarily moved the hearings to the justice of the peace office in Bitzen. Repairs and upgrades were done at the Genk location to fix the damage and make sure the building was safe. Because of this starting from November 1 hearings and other judicial functions will restart at the Genk office since the necessary repairs are completed and the facility is operational again.
What is the plan for the justice of the peace in Genk over the next 10 years?
The justice of the peace has made a detailed plan with the city of Genk for the next 10 years. “At first the sessions will be held in a room at the Genk city hall, and our administration will be in the old customs office,” says Robert Stas, the chairman of the Limburg justice of the peace and police. “This room will be available for the justice of the peace starting November 1, every Tuesday and Friday morning,” adds Mayor Wim Dries (CD&V). “At other times groups can use that room.” Meanwhile, a new hall with offices for the justice of the peace is being built in the Social House at the Welfare Campus Portavida in Genk. “We still have a good space on the 2nd floor. It’s not finished yet but we think it will be ready by autumn 2025. This location is also easy to reach by public transport,” Dries says.
The justice of the peace is currently located outside the Genk city hall but they plan to return to the building once renovations are done. The city hall is home to the academy which will soon move to the Regina Mundi building. It has been said that this move is important because it will free up space in the city hall for the justice of the peace to use. Renovation of the city hall’s wing is expected to start once the academy has moved out and it is projected to be finished by 2033-2034. The mayor has confirmed that the plan to bring the justice of the peace back to the city hall has always been the goal so the current setup is just a temporary solution until the renovations are complete.
