At the end of the September quorum court meeting, Justice of the Peace John Howerton said he planned to call for a committee to study the possibility of acquiring a better facility for the Eastern District Courthouse. At the October meeting on Monday night, he introduced a plan to create a temporary committee to study the “financial impact and feasibility” of building a judicial district court complex. The ordinance creating the committee suggests a location on county-owned property next to the Detention Center.
Howerton said the committee’s intent will be to relocate only the judicial offices, although other JPs have in the past discussed moving all county offices into a new building. JP Jack Deaton said, “If you don’t think we need a new courtroom, you could drive by this morning.” Monday is Circuit Court day, and those on the docket overwhelm the building and the parking area.
JP Duane Coatney objected to talking about the Eastern District courthouse without including the rest of the county. “The Western District courthouse is in dire shape,” he said. “If we talk about a new courthouse, it should be for all the people of the county.” JP Craig Hicks pointed out that the county cannot eliminate either judicial district without legislative action, although JP Chuck Olson said one courthouse could still accommodate both judicial districts.
All approved the creation of the committee.
In other business:
- Olson said he spoke with Sheriff Jim Ross earlier in the day about some roof leaks. He said he will update the other JPs after an assessment. Olson also reported on problems with staffing in dispatch.
- Deaton reported for the budget committee, which had already met several times. The committee had another meeting scheduled to follow the regular meeting. Deaton said the committee has spent a lot of focus on premium pay for county employees who worked during the Covid outbreak.
- Administrator Vonda Moore gave an update on the hospital. She said not much has changed since her last report, except the hospital is dealing with fewer workers. The services and specialties at the hospital have not changed. The hospital recently underwent a Joint Commission Survey and received high marks and full accreditation. Moore mentioned the new Emergency Room doctor and a new doctor in family medicine. Covid cases raised patient numbers sharply in July and August. “Considering what we’ve been through, I’m very proud,” she concluded.
- The quorum court authorized County Judge Sam Barr to apply for a grant to improve broadband service in the northern part of the county. A similar grant earlier this year gave a boost to the southern part of the county.
- The plaster on a hallway in the Western District Courthouse will be replaced.
- The county received $3,300 from the state for participating in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. State funds pay overtime for local law enforcement to perform additional traffic control.
- Lt. Blake Ringberg reported for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and said the storage building the quorum court approved is now in place, effectively doubling the space available for storing evidence.