New courtroom opens as county seeks state court facility funds

The Cass County Board of Commissioners heard updates that a newly built courtroom above the meeting chamber is now in use while county staff and state IT continue to work out technology needs.

Judge Webster, who addressed the commission during the project-update item, described the state's Court Facility Improvement Fund as a statutory source created by the legislature to help counties defray court space costs. He said the fund has in recent years covered tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars and noted $100,000 was approved for courtroom technology and an additional $200,000 was advocated for and set aside in the current session.

The judge said county and state officials have coordinated the courtroom transition, and that the space hosted court earlier the same day. He and other speakers described the courtroom as well built and intended for long-term use; they noted some technology and furnishing work remains.

Commission and court speakers discussed who pays for courtroom furnishings, saying some items are funded by the state while other office and courtroom furnishings are county-purchased or provided through programs such as Rough Rider Industries for office furniture. Turnaround time for custom furniture was described as lengthy.

No formal vote was taken on the courtroom or fund requests during the meeting; commissioners acknowledged that Vice Chair Flacco serves on the Court Facility Improvement Fund committee and said the county will pursue an allocation. The commission was urged to coordinate with legislators and the committee to secure available funding.

Background: the Court Facility Improvement Fund is a state-created fund that counties may request for courtroom construction, technology and furnishings. Exact grant amounts the county will apply for, and the final award, were not specified during the meeting.