Judge Bass asked the Fayette County Commission on multiple courthouse safety and accessibility issues, including exposed wiring that he said creates trip hazards, a non-ergonomic front-office desk, and worn carpet in the courtroom and adjacent office suite.

The judge said wiring in his office had been stapled to walls and run across floors and provided a packet of photos showing wires and raised boards. “I’ve tripped on these wires,” Judge Bass said, describing temporary fixes and contractor work he called unsafe. He proposed installing a flush floor outlet box near the judge’s desk and running low-voltage and power lines through the ceiling cavity above the adjacent office to eliminate exposed wires.

The judge also asked that maintenance remove a makeshift front desk he described as built from two-by-fours and not ergonomically suitable for staff, and requested permission to purchase a sit-stand front desk that he said would cost about $2,700, including shipping. He noted the courthouse carpet is decades old and urged replacing carpet throughout the courtroom suite; he said carpet work appeared to already be planned by the commission and that he would submit style and grade options.

Commissioners did not vote to spend county funds immediately. Instead, they asked county maintenance staff to inspect the ceiling cavity and floor structure to confirm whether a recessed floor box could be installed without disturbing structural arches, and said the commission would send the judge a letter with its decision. One commissioner noted the judge’s annual $4,000 budget line and suggested part of that allotment might be used toward a desk over the next two years if needed.

No formal appropriation was approved during the meeting; commissioners said they would coordinate with the Supreme Court’s electricians, the phone company, and county maintenance for any courtroom rewiring or sound-system wiring work and would consult the judge on carpet colors and materials.

The commission directed Dan Ooten (maintenance/inspector) to examine the relevant spaces and report back; the judge offered to meet with involved vendors when carpet is removed to coordinate wiring work.

The commission confirmed it will include the courtroom and adjacent anteroom in any forthcoming carpet replacement project and provide a written response to the judge’s requests.