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Judge proposes reconfiguring clerk space to create secure chambers; commissioners weigh grants and costs
Summary
A judicial official outlined a plan to convert clerk office space into secure judge chambers and move front-facing clerk services to the hallway, recommending pursuing planning/construction funding (court-security or underfunded grants) and asking staff to obtain cost estimates; commissioners agreed to explore options and seek input from local contractors.
A judicial official told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 that the county should reconfigure existing first-floor office space to create secure judge chambers and a public-facing clerk counter, improving courtroom access and judge safety during high-profile criminal matters.
The presenter said the proposal would move the clerk's office footprint to a more public-facing counter and convert the current clerk space into a secure chamber with a restroom and secure hallway access to the courtroom. He noted prior feasibility work and suggested two funding paths: request planning or construction funds through a court-security grant or apply to an "underfunded" capital grant currently open with approximately $3 million available statewide (deadline at end of September). He recommended getting cost estimates and consulting with a local contractor (Brad) to determine whether planning and construction funds could be combined.
Commissioners discussed grant timing, prior expenditures on architectural work that was not executed, and the tradeoffs of pursuing planning versus construction funding. The judge said he could draft a brief narrative for grant applications and that county staff could contact a local contractor for preliminary costing. The board asked staff to follow up with cost estimates and to consider a short workshop to determine next steps.
