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Judge urges courthouse reconfiguration for security; commissioners consider grant options and local contractor costing
Summary
A county judge proposed converting the clerk's office into judge chambers and moving the clerk's front counter to improve courtroom security and avoid cross‑traffic; commissioners discussed pursuing court‑security or underfunded planning and construction grants and seeking local costing from a contractor.
A Dolores County judge told commissioners on Sept. 2 that courthouse circulation and security concerns — particularly during large criminal dockets and jury trials — justify reconfiguring existing office space so judges can move between the courtroom and a private chamber without passing through public areas.
The judge described a plan to convert the clerk's office (where Cheyenne currently sits) into a chamber with a secure entry and to relocate the clerk to a front‑facing counter with a protective window. The judge said the proposed layout would provide a separate restroom and a secure path between courtroom and chamber, reducing the risk of inadvertent contact among jurors, victims, defendants and court staff.
"Could we take the existing clerk's office ... and reconfigure that into the judge's chamber?" the judge asked, laying out options to remove a nonstructural wall, tap into existing plumbing chases, and create a secure door and public counter. He said the remodel would be less costly than building additional square footage and would better use current county space.
Commissioners discussed two funding approaches: (1) seek planning and construction money through the court‑security grant (which requires an in‑person presentation) and (2) submit a narrative for the state's underfunded program (which recently announced roughly $3 million for the next round) before a Sept. 30 deadline. Commissioners suggested asking a local contractor for preliminary costing so the county could apply for construction funds rather than just planning money.
Officials said a county representative would draft a brief narrative for grant submission, coordinate with local contractor Brad (contractor name referenced in transcript) for cost estimates, and prepare for an in‑person court‑security grant presentation if the county pursues that route.
Next steps The judge agreed to draft a short project narrative; staff will follow up with the contractor for costing. If a cost estimate is available, commissioners said the county would be better positioned to apply for construction funding in the next grant cycle.
