Infrastructure committee recommends reallocating funds to build two courtrooms in Annex

The Oklahoma County infrastructure committee voted to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners reallocate up to $260,000 from capital project C0086 (the JJC courtroom fund) to build two abbreviated courtrooms and associated chambers in the southeast corner of the Annex fourth floor.

Keith, the county project lead presenting the plan, said the build‑out would include judges' benches, public seating, chambers and bathrooms and that the $260,000 figure is a rough construction estimate that excludes asbestos abatement work. He told the committee the estimate was developed from recent telephone quotes from contractors the county has used previously and was gathered by him and Chris Ponder.

The committee also recommended reallocating $1.5 million from the same JJC fund to complete asbestos abatement across the entire fourth floor, with up to $150,000 of that amount allocated specifically for asbestos work tied to the southeast courtroom build‑out. Those reallocations were presented as recommendations to the BOCC; actual transfers require BOCC and budget board approval.

A judge who spoke during the item emphasized the urgency: “We are in desperate need right now of at at two judges that do not have courtrooms,” the judge said, urging the county to keep the money designated for providing courtrooms for the judiciary.

County staff and committee members debated doing a phased abatement (courtroom area first) versus abating the whole floor. Staff representing the assessor’s office said about 40 assessor staff currently occupy the fourth floor and asked to be kept informed about relocation options and public access implications. Keith said a phased approach could allow the southeast corner to be completed first and the north side to be abated later if desired.

Committee members requested supporting documentation: itemized quotes for demo and millwork, records showing how vendors were identified, and refreshed estimates before any BOCC action. Several members also noted construction costs have risen sharply and discussed that the county sometimes controls costs by acting as general contractor on smaller projects.

The committee moved and seconded a recommendation that the BOCC proceed with the plan for the Annex southeast courtrooms; the motion carried by voice vote. A separate motion recommending up to $260,000 be reallocated from C0086 to create the Annex courtroom line item also passed by voice vote, as did the motion recommending $1.5 million for fourth‑floor asbestos abatement.