Security and climate control improvements slated for courthouse
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Improvements to the Darlington County Courthouse are under consideration, and County Council discussed some of these plans at their Feb. 18 work session.
County administrator Charles Stewart said the county is looking at several repair options for the aged HVAC system. Council recently approved spending $70,000 to fix a clogged coil system that leaked condensation from floor to floor, staining ceiling tiles, flooring and causing moisture issues. He added that it might cost close to $1 million to change out all the old fan coil units and change to an electric valve system.
Stewart said staffers are waiting on quotes for several climate control improvements, including replacing a furnace original to the 1965 building, and installing a dedicated HVAC system for the vast 5th Floor courtroom. Stewart said this room is almost a microclimate unto itself, and controlling humidity and mildew presents a major challenge.
Members of council tossed around the idea of remodeling the large courtroom to make better use of the space and cut heating and cooling costs. Council member Bobby Kilgo, who practiced law for many years in the courthouse, suggested lowering the ceiling and installing new lighting to replace the current lights.
“The lighting in that courtroom is atrocious,” said Kilgo. “I almost need a flashlight to be able to do anything in there.”
Stewart said the only problem with dropping the ceiling is working around the courtroom’s floor to ceiling windows. Members of Council chorused agreement that smaller windows would be preferable to keeping the room as-is, so Stewart said that plan could be incorporated into a renovation proposal.
Another proposal to expand the cramped Family Court waiting room area and courtroom is being prepared with help from Clerk of Court Scott Suggs. Stewart said this problem needs attention as soon as possible, since people are often waiting in the same room with those they will oppose in court and this can generate tension and conflict.
Also, Stewart said plans are being formed to prevent judges from crossing paths with defendants, and to prevent prisoners from mingling with citizens visiting the courthouse to conduct business. This plan could include retrofitting courthouse elevators with a key system which would send elevators directly from origin to destination without stopping, thereby curbing unsafe interactions.
Kilgo noted that a dedicated one-floor elevator could safely deliver judges from 4th Floor offices to the 5th Floor courtroom, but the elevator has been unused since the 1980s when procedures were changed. He suggested tweaking procedures again, and making use of this private transport, could increase security for visiting judges.
Kilgo also said that clearing out the old law library could provide space for a better Family Court courtroom, moving the Solicitor’s Office to other county-owned property could free up office space to covert for waiting rooms.
Council member Le Flowers agreed that Council needs to address problems with county court facilities quickly as a matter of public safety. Stewart said proposals to remedy several of these issues will be brought before Council in the coming months.
