The renovation of the third floor of the courthouse will have to wait.
During the Starke County Commissioners meeting held on ZOOM last week, Commissioner Kathy Norem said the process of getting bids for the project was just about to start when Executive Orders came down from the State concerning a stay-at-home order due to COVID-19.
The plans are ready and the design is done. The money is appropriated for the project. It will resume once restrictions are lifted and the bidding process can resume.
As for other large courtroom upgrades, the doors will be replaced along with the curtains and flooring, audio and visual equipment will be upgraded, new rails will be installed, and the lighting fixtures will be re-lamped with energy saving lighting. A new security feature that can be accessed by the judge and the judge’s staff to either lock people inside or outside of the courtroom and offices is planned.
A fire alarm system is included, but outside of the budget as it was included following the initial discussion.
The jury rooms will get a fresh coat of paint and new ceiling tiles, while the Magistrate’s court will get new wainscot paneling, new carpet and lighting. The wallpaper will be removed and the walls will be plastered.
The overall goal is to keep the historic nature of the interior of the courtroom with these renovations and John Kirk from DLZ believes that the integrity will be kept intact with the plans presented.
