5th Summary Awards

Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee

COURT FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
-- SUMMARY OF AWARDS - 5^th ROUND --

Section 27-05.2-10, NDCC, authorizes grants from the Court Facilities Improvement and Maintenance Fund for county projects to improve or maintain court facilities. The Fund receives revenue from a share of a $100 fee applied to all criminal cases except infractions. The Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee is established under Section 27-05.2-09, NDCC, to receive applications for grants and make awards for projects that qualify for grant funds. The Committee is comprised of the following members: Sally Holewa, State Court Administrator and Committee Chair; Jerome Gruenberg, Ward County Commissioner, Dwayne Erickson, Foster County Commissioner; William E. Kretschmar, State Representative; and Jim Hill, State Bar Association representative.

Briefly stated, the basic project requirements are that the improvement or maintenance project must be a necessary improvement to court facilities or essential to remodel or maintain existing court facilities. The county is required by statute to provide local funding for the project in an amount equal to at least 25% of the project's total cost. Additionally, Section 27-05.2-10 requires that at least 25% of the available grant funds be allocated to counties with a population of less than 7,500.

The Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee convened on January 29, 2009 to review the fifth round of applications for grant funds. The Committee met again on February 19 for further review of applications. The total amount of grant funds requested was $3,013,635.43, which was considerably more than the funds available for grant awards. The amount of grants awarded at the January 29 and February 19 meetings was $872,866.53.

Listed below in alphabetical order are the counties that received grant awards, the amount of the award, and a brief description of the project.

Adams $19,237 Air conditioning (clerk's office, jury room, attorney conference room), metal detector and Kevlar (courtroom desks), office suite and desk (clerk's office), window coverings (clerk's office and jury room), coat rack, table and shelving (jury room).

Barnes $23,712 Ductless air conditioning units (judge's, recorder's, and clerk's offices), window blinds (judge's and recorder's offices), carpet, paint, shelving (clerk's office).

Benson $3,924 Courtroom chairs, reupholster judge's chair, repair and paint courtroom ceiling, shelving unit.

Burleigh $9,920.84 Remodel judge's chambers, table and chairs for jury room, courtroom bench seating.

Dickey $3,528.71 ArmorCore for bench, court reporter's desk, and clerk's desk.

Emmons $10,467.44 Repair courtroom benches; remodel bathrooms; bathroom lighting; wooden shelving (clerk's office); paint courtroom areas; plasma TV, DVD/VCR, LCD monitor for courtroom.

Foster $4,135.74 Refurbish juror chairs, additional chairs, 2 security cameras (courtroom), 1 security camera (judge's entrance).

Golden Valley $3,031.50 Counsel tables, bench seating in courtroom gallery.

Grand Forks $219,480 Replacement of boilers for the courthouse.

Grant $5,979 New jury chairs (12).

Griggs $8,718.68 Air conditioning (clerk's office, juror room), counter and gate (clerk's office), update electrical outlets and computer access points.

Hettinger $12,635.32 Counsel tables, chairs, lectern; courtroom lighting; desk (recorder); courtroom carpeting; courtroom mural; tables and chairs (judge's chambers); refinish judge's desk; carpet (judge's chambers).

LaMoure $98,871 Workplace lighting (clerk's office); computer access outlet; remodel witness box; repair and refinish hardwood floors (clerk's office area); replace carpeting (courtroom and judge's chambers); replace windows (clerk's office, vault, law library, judge's chambers, courtroom).

McIntosh $8,007.26 Bulletproof paneling (judge's bench, court reporter's desk, clerk's desk); air conditioners for courtroom; window blinds for courtroom.

Mercer $910.51 Bench cushions.

Mountrail $24,014.25 Replace glass block windows and replace wood trim; new heat register; wiring for heat registers and microphone jacks; paint courtroom.

Ransom $31,875 Replacing windows (courtroom, chambers, clerk's office, jury room, counsel room) and an air conditioner for court chambers.

Richland $8,606.25 Air conditioning unit for room that stores servers for clerk's office, and juvenile court; light fixtures (sconces); sink for jury room.

Sargent $20,673.13 Replacing nine window mount air conditioners with mini-split air conditioners/heat pumps.

Sheridan $4,927.34 Repair jury restrooms (new toilets, sink, faucets); repaint jury room and restroom; jury table; jury chairs(14). Note: Received 4^th round funds for 12 jury base chairs.

Steele $11,033 Air conditioner (clerk's office); replace lighting (jury deliberation and conference rooms); electrical outlets (courtroom); heating unit (courtroom).

Ward $2,708.25 Ceiling fans (clerk's office).

Wells $2,929.61 Replace carpet with laminate flooring (courtroom rear entry and jury rooms); open file cabinet (clerk's office).

Williams $12,681 Relocation and remodel of juvenile court offices; addition of urinalysis collection restroom.

Williams $320,859.70 Substantial remodel and reconstruction of third floor of courthouse; new courtroom (Phase One of a remodel and reconstruction project).