Agenda Package - 03-02-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paoc I of -2 Gi 1 7 • Gayneil Lee From: John Crumpton Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 1:46 PM To: Gaynelt Lee Subject: FW COURTHOUSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Backup for courthouse item. John A. Crumpton County Manager Lee County PO Box 1968 Sanford, NC 27331-1968 (919) 718-4605 From: Rick Hager [mailto:rickhager@alltel.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:50 PM To: Hayes, Richard Cc: Butler, Randall; Carter, Randy; John Crumpton; Everhart, Janice; Love, Jr., Jim L; Mollie McInnis; Thomas, Susie Subject: COURTHOUSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Richard, • 1 wanted to bring you up to speed regarding a matter that is near and dear to my heart. In response to a long series of "changes" at the courthouse since its opening in 1995 (which members of the local bar believed to be unwise and not well thought out and which have nothing to do with the smoking issue), the Lee Bar Assn. unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the commissioners to appoint an advisory committee regarding future changes to the courthouse complex. I was asked to present the resolution to the commissioners at their last meeting in Nov. 08 and the commissioners unanimously decided to create such a committee. The committee is comprised of all the "stakeholders" and John Crumpton is an ex officio member of the committee I am the local bar's representative on the committee. The committee had its first meeting in January at which time I shared the commissioner's comments when the committee was created and then introduced two (2) proposals for discussion. In short, the commissioner's seemed to be very concerned about the fact that Courtroom No 4 (the old Superior Courtroom) was under-utilized and, as a result, a courthouse complex which was supposed to last 25 years was becoming overcrowded after a mere 13 years There seemed to be some sentiment for relocating the Probation Office which is housed on the ground floor of the old courthouse so that Courtroom #4 could be used more easily and some other concerns could be addressed (like making the area where the DA's office is located an area which is closed to the public). As a result of these comments and after much discussion with my fellow bar members and the other stakeholders, I have decided to move in the direction suggested by the commissioners To begin the process and in recognition of our current economic circumstances, however, I decided to introduce just two (2) proposals, i.e. a Parking plan and a plan to convert Courtroom #3 to a non-jury courtroom so that the existing jury room can be converted to a Lawyer's Conference Room where forms can be stored and certain other necessary equipment can be stored, e.g. a computer, printer and copier. • After receiving a favorable response from the committee, I suggested that we "think about" the proposals and then meet in February and vote on these matters.