Courts ask to use commissioners’ hearing room and general meeting room on Fridays during Hall of Justice outage; security plans underway

Savannah Clement, public services, asked the board to allow Superior Court and District Court to use the Commissioner’s Hearing Room and the General Meeting Room on Fridays starting in mid‑August while the Hall of Justice project and related power-work continue.

Clement said the request covers a long period (mid‑August through mid‑April, possibly into May) because courts will need recurring space for dockets, protection-order hearings and jail dockets that fall on Tuesdays after a Monday holiday. “Normally we wouldn't come to the board with, like, a request like this, but because it's for such a long period of time...we thought it would be appropriate to come and kind of make that request at a public meeting,” she said.

Staff described security planning: sheriff’s office court-security personnel would be involved and the county is evaluating rented baggage scanners and metal-detector options; the plan includes routing the public to different entrances and adding an extra security guard under the county’s vendor if needed. “We have, we did meet with the security group...There is a tentative plan, to do it actually on this floor using, some entrances for district court,” Clement said.

Staff also noted planning for a Labor Day weekend power outage and fallback locations if permits or power activation are delayed.

Ending: Commissioners expressed support for accommodations and asked staff to finalize security plans and share details with the public; no formal vote was required at the brief.