Commissioners approve closure of courthouse spiral staircase, adopt procurement and inventory policies; table sheriff software renewal

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…