Roosevelt courthouse may soon see renovations

Dec. 23—The Roosevelt County Courthouse may soon see renovations after receiving funding from the Roosevelt County Commission.

Court Executive Officer Kevin Spear along with District Judge Donna Mowrer presented the request to the commission on Tuesday. Spear said the commission would have to match a $1 million project with $500,000 in order for the court to get funding from the Administrative Office of Courts.

Mowrer said the court doesn't have the funding unless the county can assist.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the $500,000.

Spear said the money would go into remodeling the courts' bathrooms and to expand the jury rooms as well. Mowrer said there is a possibility some plumbing lines may need to be replaced as well.

"When I have jurors who are handicapped they can't go to the bathroom (outside the courtroom). They have to go downstairs," Mowrer said.

Another project is to create a conference room for attorneys, their clients and witnesses.

Spear said $200,000 from a separate fund is dedicated to updating the courtrooms to be more technologically advanced.

Also Tuesday, the commission tabled the discussion of the Roosevelt County Ethics Ordinance draft. Commissioner Roy Lee Crisswell moved for the commission to host a workshop with public officials to determine the kind of amendments they want to put into place.

Crisswell also advocated to have all elected officials at the workshop, but Commissioner Rodney Savage said there would be "too many cooks in the kitchen" to address the issue quickly and efficiently.

A date for this workshop has yet to be determined.