FORT SCOTT - Bourbon County commissioners voted Monday to move district court into the county-owned building at 108 W. Second St. while the courthouse elevator is out of service, formalizing a relocation the commission has planned for weeks.
“I move that we use the building at 108 West Second to house the district court temporarily while the elevator is out of service,” Commissioner David Beerbower said.
The motion passed without opposition. Commissioners also named Beerbower project leader for what he called the Bourbon County District Court Temporary Relocation, on a motion by Chairman Gregg Motley seconded by Commissioner Joe Allen.
Two more motions from Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee passed unanimously. The first closes the courthouse’s second and third floors to everyone but staff from Oct. 21 through Nov. 20, and the second lets the executive assistant issue a maintenance access card for elevator repair crews.
Beerbower’s project checklist includes courtroom technology for a virtual courtroom, security cameras, signs at each courthouse entrance, newspaper and radio notices, carpet cleaning and removing a wall near the reception window. After walking the building with maintenance staff Monday, he said the wall work should go to a contractor.
“Once we got in there and saw the level of the wall that they want to remove, I think it’d be best if we contract it out,” he said.
Beerbower said he hopes to present a project budget next week and pay for the work out of the jail sales tax fund, including weekend wages if crews are brought in. He is drafting a request for proposals for local contractors, who would need commission approval.
Public Works will lend the court white tables and chairs for about a month, and Public Works Director Kenny Allen said his department has office chairs on hand for the clerks. Maintenance staff can handle the carpet cleaning with a rented shampooer, Beerbower said.
The Second Street building is currently listed for sale, and Motley said that needs to change.
“Yeah, we need to de-list that,” he said.
Commissioner Samuel Tran asked whether the courts pay rent for the space they occupy. Motley said last year’s budget advisory committee found no rent was paid, and Beerbower said he believes the state mandates that the county provide the space.
Tran then asked whether an occupancy agreement exists between the county and the courts. Milburn-Kee said the county has one with the 6th Judicial District covering probation, and that she did not look for others.
Commissioners then discussed the project checklist of work submitted by the district court judge.
“It’s a pretty spartan list compared to what we could be having to deal with,” Motley said.
