Apr 7, 2018 2 min read

Washington County commissioners Thursday voted to advertise for bids from engineering design services companies for the construction of a new courtroom.

Commission Chairman Larry Maggi said after the board meeting, “We’re just looking. We’re doing a space feasibility study.”

Maggi said those who are studying the issue of making the best use of limited space include Scott Fergus, director of administration; Randy Vankirk, purchasing director; Patrick Grimm, court administrator; Joshua Hatfield, finance director; and county Controller Michael Namie.

The Legislature approved a seventh judge for Washington County Court because of its heavy caseload, but the governor has not appointed anyone and the judgeship is not on the ballot this year.

Senior Judge William Nalitz, who retired from the Greene County bench, has been using a courtroom that was created a few years ago from part of the law library in the courthouse basement.

“Everybody’s giving us their wish list now, and we’re paring it down to what everybody really needs,” Maggi said.

When a sixth judge was added to the Washington County bench in 2005, the recorder of deeds office moved from the courthouse to the Courthouse Square office building.

Judge Brandon Neuman is now assigned to the courtroom and adjacent office space in the southeast corner of the first floor in the historic courthouse, which is more than a century old.

More than a decade ago, what’s known as the old jail was renovated to accommodate hearing rooms and offices for the probation department. Its official name is the Family Court Center on West Cherry Avenue.

“Do we need to remodel some of these places?” Maggi asked.

“We’re running out of space here.”