Planned magistrate court move spurs security concerns
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WELLSBURG -- Plans to move Brooke County's magistrate court back to the county courthouse have spurred concerns from two of the court's security guards.
John Bado and Joe Kulin expressed their apprehension to the Brooke County Commission Tuesday as crews set about demolishing the former Brooke County Museum to make room for a proposed addition to the courthouse.
County Commissioner Stacey Wise said the court and its staff will be moved into the commission meeting room and offices not used by the county clerk and health department until the annexation can be completed.
County Commissioner A.J. Thomas said the commission may meet in the nearby training room if their meetings conflict with the court's docket.
"At one time this was their courtroom so we're following a plan that was kind of already in place," said Wise, who added the move still must be approved by the state Supreme Court.
Bado said the commission should be prepared for a higher flow of criminal offenders into the building. Kulin noted the court's current space in the Progressive Bank building includes private areas in which prosecutors and attorneys may meet with plaintiffs and defendants and questioned where that will occur in the courthouse.
Wise said the commissioners will make their offices available to the court when needed.
Brooke County Sheriff Larry Palmer said he will meet with the county's two magistrates and their staff to discuss security measures. He said coordinating scheduling for the circuit court, which is held in the courthouse, and magistrate court will be key to reducing the flow of people through the courthouse's single entrance.
The magistrate court was moved to the Progressive building after the courthouse's ground floor was flooded in 2004. But over the years the commission has received complaints from judicial officials and the Brooke County Bar Association about conditions there, including access issues for handicapped visitors.
Thomas said a leaking roof has resulted in more pressure for the court to be moved, leading the commission to step up plans for the addition, including advertising for an engineer to design the addition.
He and the other commissioners have re-formed the county's building commission, a volunteer group that will be charged with seeking a loan for the project, which has been estimated at $5 million to $7 million.
Wise said by bringing all of the county's courts under one roof, the addition will address many of the concerns expressed by the guards, including the mingling of criminal offenders with general visitors to the courthouse.
The guards asked why the magistrate court couldn't be moved elsewhere, such as an empty storefront along Charles Street or the former Wellsburg Middle School. Following the meeting, they were asked about such options for the magistrate court or in place of an addition.
Wise said the ultimate goal is to also place under one roof the county prosecutor's office and the probation department to eliminate costs for rent, utilities and insurance for their locations.
Thomas said the middle school would be too large to serve even all of the county's departments.
"We want to keep it (the proposed judicial annex) here with the historic portion of our courthouse," Wise said.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)