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; Randi Suckut, Wells 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 necessaryimprovement 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, 2010, to
review the sixth round of applications for grant funds. The Committee reviewed 32 applications for
grant funds: 11 applications from 10 counties with populations 7500 or more and 21 applications
from counties with populations less than 7500. Amount of grant funds requested: $845,678.09.
Amount of grant requests denied (5) or reduced (3): $307,131.43. Amount of grants awarded at the
January 29 meeting: $538,546.66.
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 $8,550.00 Electrical outlets for metal detector, court reporter and clerk desks;
plaster repair (jury room); paint clerk's office and jury room; counsel
tables; conference table and chairs (jury room); replace glass inserts
(door leading to chambers) and add peepholes; replace window
coverings (judge's chambers).
Barnes $149,457.75 Replace windows (34) for judge's offices, juvenile offices, clerk's
office, large and small courtroom; large courtroom furniture (2 desks
[clerk and reporter], 2 attorney tables); furniture for small courtroom
(judge's and recorder's desks, 2 attorney tables, clerk's desk);
computers and scanner . > Burleigh $8,304.00 Install window between judge's office and court reporter's office;
barrier between prisoner's bench and counsel table; code locks for 4
courtrooms, court administration side-door, and juvenile court entry
door; electricity for counsel tables in 2 courtrooms; electronic release
for juvenile code lock.
Eddy $10,461.28 Remodel meeting room for attorneys and clients; computer, monitor,
and software to accommodate Odyssey System.
Emmons $2,436.00 New customer counters (clerk's office).
Foster $3,067.74 Lectern, TV, DVD/VCR player, and TV cart for courtroom;
computer, monitor, printer, software to accommodate Odyssey
System.
Grant $11,216.25 Sound system for courtroom; chairs (5) for attorney tables; witness
stand.
Hettinger $11,439.08 New judge's bench with bookcase; witness area; carpet (judge's
bench area); workstation beside bench; additional electrical outlets in
courtroom. Funds were not awarded for refurbishing the courtroom
mural.
LaMoure $3,112.50 Window blinds (courtroom, judge's chambers, law library);
restoration of stenciling (clerk's office).
McIntosh $18,380.92 Chairs (6- attorneys, parties, witnesses, and clerk); desk (clerk's
office); video system (50" plasma monitor, cart with rack, cables).
Mountrail $44,925.00 Replace windows (17) located in judge's chambers, court
reporter/recorder office, attorney conference/juvenile supervisor
office, areas behind courtroom, victim-witness/domestic violence
coordinator's office.
Nelson $4,095.00 Jury room improvements (carpet, table, storage cabinet, chairs,
clock); TV and DVD player; clock for courtroom.
Oliver $3,168.75 TV, DVD-VCR player, cart.
Pierce $23,325.75 IVN system for video conferencing in the courtroom.
Pembina $63,750.00 Replace 25 courthouse windows related to courtroom, judge's
chambers, and jury room.
Ransom $13,913.26 Replace tile floor in courtroom with cork flooring; repair table tops
in courtroom; replace window blinds in court personnel areas; 2
computers; scanner.
Slope $5,566.40 Replace counter top in clerk's office; built-in cabinets and shelves for
clerk's office.
Stark $12,093.00 Update judges' offices (window blinds, strip wallpaper and paint,
new chairs (5), combination locks for doors, ceiling repair, replace
metal panels with glass units).
Steele $2,437.50 Computer, scanner, and software to accommodate Odyssey System.
Stutsman $13,950.00 Cabinets for jury supplies, refrigerator for jury refreshments; install
sound barriers on common wall between judges' offices.
Towner $31,236.42 Replace heating/air conditioning system for courtroom, jury room,
judge's chambers, conference room; remodel court and jury
bathrooms; new window blinds (bathrooms, courtroom hallway, law
library, conference room; painting (bathrooms, law library,
conference rooms); refinish hardwood floors (jury room/conference
room and courtroom hallway.
Traill $1,810.50 Printer and scanner for clerk's office to accommodate Odyssey
System; printer for courtroom.
Walsh $16,597.02 Repair and paint courtroom ceiling; replace juror and witness chairs;
install courtroom security camera.
Ward $54,226.50 Renovate jury room and law library to provide one larger courtroom;
new judge's bench area; new pews for public; platform for clerk's
desk in master calender courtroom; installation of wireless Internet.
Wells $1,837.55 Computer and software for clerk; scanner and software for deputy
clerk to accommodate Odyssey System.