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Chief judge seeks up to $850,000 for courthouse bench replacement; board authorizes bidding
Summary
Chief Judge Philip told the committee the Third Street courthouse needs three new benches for security and technology reasons and that the work will be paid from court facilities funds; the committee authorized the judge to award and execute a contract and an RFP was posted with bids due May 26.
Chief Judge Philip appeared during public comment and later the administration presented a resolution authorizing the award and execution of a contract to replace courtroom benches at the Third Street courthouse.
Philip explained the wooden benches predate widespread courtroom computing and are too small to accommodate current case‑management systems; he also cited security concerns given higher volumes of pro se litigants. He told the committee the work will be funded from the building facilities fund—collected from court fees—and not from the county general fund.
County purchasing staff said an RFP for the bench project was posted and would remain open through May 26; the committee voted to authorize the chief judge to sign the contract after the procurement and legal review are complete. The administration noted adequate funds are available in the judicial construction fund and characterized the project as having no general‑fund impact.
Committee members asked for confirmation that the project would be competitively bid and that the state’s attorney’s office and purchasing would review contract language; those assurances were provided on the record.
