Courthouse renovation nearing completion with move-in set for next week

The Daviess County Commissioners meeting on June 24, 2025, provided a significant update on the ongoing courthouse renovation project, which is nearing completion. Derek, the project manager, reported that the third floor is almost fully finished, with all furniture installed and the Circuit Courtroom ready for use, pending the arrival of two gates for the jury box expected next week.

The judge's chambers and court staff areas are complete, while the probation department is nearly finished, requiring only minor touch-ups. On the second floor, approximately 60% of the furniture has been installed, and work continues on the clerk's workspace and the superior court area. The first floor still requires more work, focusing on public safety systems and office spaces.

Derek also highlighted that the courthouse's security systems are operational, with ongoing adjustments being made. The state fire marshal is scheduled to conduct final testing on Thursday, which is a crucial step before the move-in process begins on Monday.

Financially, the project remains on track with the original budget of $13.7 million. The construction contingency stands at $63,799, which may decrease to $41,668 due to pending changes. The soft cost budget is stable, with a contingency of $65,931.

The move-in process will occur over several weeks, starting with the Circuit Court, followed by the superior court and magistrate court, with the probation and clerk departments to follow. The meeting concluded with a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting, which passed unanimously.