Next month, the budget process for Cole County will begin, and on Tuesday, the County Commission got an idea of what needs the county courts will hope to address from Cole County Presiding Judge Jon Beetem.
One of the biggest issues needing addressed, Beetem said, is help with cleaning the courthouse.
"We don't have janitorial service in the building, with the exception of taking out the trash and cleaning bathrooms every morning," Beetem said. "We had a civil jury trial last week, and we had problems all through the week with toilets. We don't want to be in the cleaning business, but we have to have some help. The traffic we have in that building is just too high for there not to be more cleaning efforts taking place."
Another item that needs to be addressed, Beetem said, are repairs to the large, main courtroom on the third floor. It's usually used by Beetem, but other judges use it if they have a trial or other large proceeding.
"There's paint and wallpaper peeling off the walls, the carpet is worn and the seats in the jury box need to be reupholstered," Beetem said.
Another item judges would like to get some money for is a detention area for the second floor of the courthouse.
This would be similar to one already in place behind Beetem's courtroom, where prisoners are held before they come in for a hearing. Beetem said they could remodel an office now used by the court marshals.
"We really have no place to detain people on the second floor if they are arrested while in the associate circuit courts," Beetem said. "That's our high-volume area for criminal cases."
Beetem said they also would like to see the hours and pay rate increased for part-time workers in the Circuit Clerk's Office.
"We're paying $11 an hour and most other places are paying $13.50 with the state paying $13.65 for part-time clerks," Beetem said. "We lost three people on Friday in the Circuit Clerk's Office. We have enough trouble trying to recruit people to work in that office, and the part-time people are essential just for the continuity that they add."
The county budget process starts in September.