Commissioner Brill raised concerns at the Sept. 9 Hampshire County Commission meeting after meeting with the circuit clerk about the Judicial Center's cleanliness and maintenance. "The carpet in the building is about 20 years old and it does show pretty considerable signs of wear," Brill said, and noted windows, tile floors and restrooms that staff described as needing deeper cleaning and occasional repair.

Commissioner Brill and other commissioners said the building likely has not had a top-to-bottom deep clean in years and suggested contracting for a one-time deep clean of windows, floors and restrooms and then reassessing ongoing housekeeping needs. "According to Commissioner Brill's list there, it looks like mostly just a deep cleaning issue," President Englinger said, adding that carpet replacement would be a separate capital item.

Commissioners discussed past approaches: the county previously used a contracted cleaning service, then switched to in-house evening staff. Commissioners suggested soliciting local contractors that can do heavy-lift jobs such as outside window cleaning and floor buffing and asked the clerk to work with facilities maintenance to get cost estimates. "If it comes back and... we're only going to be able to get this, incremental progress is still progress," Brill said.

No formal appropriation was approved at the meeting. The clerk said she will work with facilities staff to contact potential contractors and will report back; commissioners also discussed setting aside funds in future capital planning for larger items such as carpet replacement.