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South Lee courthouse is showing its age
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| Lee County Supervisor George Morgan, Keokuk, points out crumbling plaster and peeling wallpaper at the top of the third floor stairs in the South Lee County Courthouse, Keokuk. |
By Tracey Lamm/MVM News Network
The South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk would be a structure that architects and designers describe as having “good bones.”
The marble fireplaces, high arched windows, clock tower and high ceilings give away its age - 117.
But, below the facade, trouble lurks. The Lee County Board of Supervisors toured the building following its regular weekly meeting Tuesday. What they saw was a building full of contrasts.
The third floor, home of the clerk of courts office, and the magistrate courtroom don't appear to have a corner without peeling wallpaper and plaster falling off in chunks.
Move one floor down to the district court and it's like stepping into another world. Original woodwork has been restored and the marble fireplaces that were used to heat the building during the winter months gleam.
But, among the building's problems is a lack of adequate space for storage of court documents. Court documents sit in labeled cardboard boxes in the building's basement. The area isn't accessible to the public, and the storage system doesn't appear to be efficient. Because so many documents are required to be kept and never destroyed, some rooms are filled with leather-bound books full of court judgments dating back to the 1800s.
The lack of security in the building also was addressed during the tour. Clerk of Court Tamika Washington said it was just a month ago that a bell was installed on the elevator to give a signal that someone was coming onto the floor. That happened, according to Washington, after someone came onto the third floor and left something sitting on one of the benches.
The magistrate courtroom has what looks like a makeshift judge's bench. Judge Gary Noneman's desk sits atop a small platform.
District Court Judge Mary Ann Brown met briefly with the board as it toured the building. When asked about security measures, Brown said the two floors with courtrooms lacked any security. In fact, Brown said she and her assistant are the only two people who work on the second floor and are especially vulnerable when one or the other has left the building for lunch.
However, Brown said a security recommendation has been compiled by the Eighth Judicial District. That document hasn't been seen by the supervisors, but board members Larry Kruse and Ernie Schiller requested a copy of the report for their review.
In other business, the board approved the first two tax abatement requests from county property owners planning new construction. Lee County now has an ordinance that allows for a two-year property tax abatement for landowners who plan new home construction or expansion. Both requests were for single-family homes in the Keokuk area.
The marble fireplaces, high arched windows, clock tower and high ceilings give away its age - 117.
But, below the facade, trouble lurks. The Lee County Board of Supervisors toured the building following its regular weekly meeting Tuesday. What they saw was a building full of contrasts.
The third floor, home of the clerk of courts office, and the magistrate courtroom don't appear to have a corner without peeling wallpaper and plaster falling off in chunks.
Move one floor down to the district court and it's like stepping into another world. Original woodwork has been restored and the marble fireplaces that were used to heat the building during the winter months gleam.
But, among the building's problems is a lack of adequate space for storage of court documents. Court documents sit in labeled cardboard boxes in the building's basement. The area isn't accessible to the public, and the storage system doesn't appear to be efficient. Because so many documents are required to be kept and never destroyed, some rooms are filled with leather-bound books full of court judgments dating back to the 1800s.
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The magistrate courtroom has what looks like a makeshift judge's bench. Judge Gary Noneman's desk sits atop a small platform.
District Court Judge Mary Ann Brown met briefly with the board as it toured the building. When asked about security measures, Brown said the two floors with courtrooms lacked any security. In fact, Brown said she and her assistant are the only two people who work on the second floor and are especially vulnerable when one or the other has left the building for lunch.
However, Brown said a security recommendation has been compiled by the Eighth Judicial District. That document hasn't been seen by the supervisors, but board members Larry Kruse and Ernie Schiller requested a copy of the report for their review.
In other business, the board approved the first two tax abatement requests from county property owners planning new construction. Lee County now has an ordinance that allows for a two-year property tax abatement for landowners who plan new home construction or expansion. Both requests were for single-family homes in the Keokuk area.
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