Pulaski County officials are hopeful that the courthouse’s new elevator will be ready in time for Monday’s county commissioners meeting, in spite of a last-minute hiccup. Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston says a fire alarm issue means the elevator probably won’t be in service by tomorrow, as previously announced. But the contractor says it should still be ready for Monday, according to Johnston. He adds that crews are working diligently to get it done.
The original legal agreement called for the elevator to be installed by the end of September. That was later pushed back to today. The project was part of a larger effort to make the courthouse compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit over a lack of accessibility.
The elevator replacement has caused some changes for government business for the past eight months. Since March, county council and commissioners meetings have been held in the Pulaski County Highway Garage. The plan commission and board of zoning appeals moved their meetings out of the courthouse earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Circuit Court and various government offices have had to make arrangements to meet with people in the Justice Center.
But as things currently stand, the courthouse should return to normal operations Monday, and council and commissioners meetings will once again be held in the commissioners’ meeting room.
