We join Jefferson City officials in celebrating the impending opening of the city’s new municipal court.
The court previously has operated out of City Hall. Court sessions were held in the City Council chambers. For years, it has been cramped and has posed potential security problems.
As we reported Thursday, court staff will move from City Hall into the first floor of the City Annex Building, at 427 Monroe St., next week. The first court session in the City Annex Building is set for Nov. 28.
“It feels great to get the project done and deliver the facility for the people of Jefferson City,” City Counselor Ryan Moehlman said. “We’re excited to get started and have court over here on a regular basis and providing greater service to the people.”
Moehlman said the new court will be more efficient and offer better customer service since it is designed as a municipal court, rather than for City Council business.
The court has offices for prosecutors and judges, benches for judges and clerks, bathrooms, upgraded technology, a security area, a transaction desk, a private consultation room and an assigned waiting area. The courtroom itself can accommodate 120 people.
The new court’s space previously was used by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, before it moved to The Linc.
The old parks’ offices were renovated into the new courtroom on time and on budget, at a cost of just over $550,000. (This isn’t a fair comparison, but if that amount sounds like a lot, consider that taxpayers paid $68 million for the Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse in 2011.)
We still have one thing left to do: name the courthouse. Ideas, anyone? Send them to [email protected].
News Tribune