$3.8M OK’d for more courthouse renovations

BY STACI WILSON

The county courthouse will see significant changes with additional renovations in the coming year.

The commissioners approved, Wednesday, Dec. 9, a nearly $3.8 million change order with Johnson Controls to renovate multiple county departments, including the Montrose District Court, the treasurer’s office, historical records, and the district attorney’s office. Outgoing commissioner, Michael Giangrieco, abstained from the vote.

The project will be paid through Act 13 (Impact fee) funding.

Commissioner Alan Hall said original plans for the project were first drawn up 15 years ago. Those original drawings have been modified and include the installation of a two-sided elevator that will reach 7 levels from basement to top floor, as well as handicap accessible bathrooms.

Renovations are expected to be completed by August 2016.

The Montrose District Court office, currently housed in the Old Jail on Lake Avenue, will move into the location of the current treasurer’s office.

Hall said the Old Jail has structural and electrical issues. He said the cost to renovate the building would be in the multi-million dollar range.

He also said a review of the deed to the Old Jail was needed before the county could make any decisions about the property.

The Old Jail was constructed in 1867-68. It, along with the Courthouse, Annex Building, and Town Green, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

District Attorney Jason Legg said that in the current district court offices there has never been a waiting area for victims and said he hoped that would be included in the plans.

Legg said the renovations are needed in the courthouse and that the added space is important. He also noted the need for a conference area, said access to Courtroom #2 is important, and the installation of an elevator is long overdue which would address the remainder of access issues to various county departments.

“(The renovations are) expensive, but the problem has been percolating a long time,” Legg said.

Other project plans include constructing a second floor in the historical records department to house the treasurer’s office.