Franklin County commissioners on April 13 voted to indefinitely close the courthouse’s spiral marble staircase, approved an ordinance encouraging use of recycled compost products when feasible, adopted a new capital asset inventory policy and tabled a sheriff’s software license renewal to gather more information.

The board unanimously approved the closure of the spiral marble staircase after Administrator Danzel described repeated falls. “I would ask that we take action today to per and definitely, I think is a better word, close the county spiral marble staircase,” Administrator Danzel said. County risk manager Briggs explained how a written notice and waiver could affect liability, telling the board, "it is a defense to damages claims if someone voluntarily encounters a known risk." Commissioner Mone moved the closure, saying, “Mister chairman, I move that we permanently close the spiral marble staircase in our middle of our courthouse and unless in special occasion as approved by the administrator.” The motion passed with the board saying aye.

The board then considered resolution 2025-242, a three-year renewal of a SmartForce officer-safety and reporting platform used by the sheriff’s office. Monty, the sheriff’s office representative at the microphone, said, “our smart force, professional platform is is critical not only in the day to day stuff that we do.” Commissioners pressed for budget clarity after discussion that the contract had originally been funded through a law enforcement grant and those funds were reallocated; one commissioner moved to table the resolution "so that we can get further clarification and information on this." The motion to table carried; the item will return for more information.

Commissioners also approved Ordinance 09-2025, a procurement ordinance that directs Franklin County to prefer compost-derived materials — such as mulch and certain soil amendments — “when possible” provided the products are available, cost-competitive and meet project timing needs. Shirley, the presenter, emphasized the ordinance “is not anything to do with organic materials processing,” noting the measure only affects procurement choices, not siting or processing of organic waste.

Finally, the board adopted Resolution 2025-219, the county’s capital asset inventory record policy and procedure. Administrator Danzel summarized the policy’s goals, saying it “offers key benefits in 3 main areas, improved fiscal accountability, enhanced operational efficiency, and, asset security and risk management.” A member of the public who spoke during comment called the measure “good stewardship.”

Votes at a glance
- Motion to adopt agenda (with relocation of an open public hearing item to regular business): approved (voice vote).
- Closure of courthouse spiral marble staircase (indefinite, exceptions by administrator): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 2025-242 (Sheriff’s SmartForce software license renewal): motion to table pending further clarification; tabled.
- Ordinance 09-2025 (Compost procurement preference): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 2025-219 (Capital asset inventory policy): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.

The items listed above were presented during the regular business portion of the April 13 meeting and carried by voice votes; the SmartForce renewal was tabled for further budget and funding clarification.

The board recessed briefly for an executive-session discussion of litigation under the cited statute and returned to open session with no decisions announced.