Renovated courtrooms back in use

The county stretched its
budget by renovating desks and chairs.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — Gone are the dusty drapes suitable for a monster movie and a heating system that made both the guilty and innocent sweat.

The two renovated Columbiana County Common Pleas courtrooms are now bright and hi-tech and back in use.

Judge David Tobin moved back into his courtroom last week for a trial, and Judge C. Ashley Pike moved back into his courtroom this week.

Judge Tobin left the courthouse in May 2006 and held court at the municipal court building.

Judge Pike, who directed the project, moved in September 2006 to a makeshift courtoom in the county’s juvenile facility.

Some final touches are incomplete at the courthouse, but the majority of the work is done.

Though the work focused on the courts, the entire building benefited from the $3.5 million project.

The courthouse received a new roof to eliminate flooding and a new heating and air conditioning system.

The old heating system for the three floors and the basement had just one thermostat. It was located in an office — often locked — of one of the county commissioners.

All the rotting windows were replaced with modern, insulated ones. The courthouse was built in the 1870s. An addition was added at the back in the 1930s.

Amy Ondrejko, the director of court operations who acted as project coordinator, said the window work was done for the quoted price. The renovation work is $35,000 under the estimate with the final touches remaining.

“We’re still well within our original estimate,” she said Wednesday.

Special court fees will help pay for courtroom, heating and cooling systems and the roof. The commissioners will pay for the windows with a debt-reduction levy the county already collects.

New safety features include desks for the court reporters in front of the judges’ benches. In the past, the court reporters sat inches away from the witness stand, where criminal defendants often testify.

Testimony will be taken by digital recordings. Court staff have new linked computer systems.

Judge Pike said that screens will show evidence to lawyers and court workers. A large, movable screen to show evidence to juries will be shared by the two judges.

Judge Pike said about 99 percent of what the court already had was reused. Old oak tables used by lawyers for the prosecution and defense were refinished instead of being replaced. Chairs in the courtroom and the seats for the jurors were reupholstered.

Judge Pike said a relative of one of the court workers used his pickup to take the chairs to a Lisbon upholstery shop.

Much of the work won’t be seen by most people. The judges’ chambers, jury rooms, offices and meeting rooms have been reconfigured to make more room.

Judge Pike said an open house will be held early next year after all the work is completed.

wilkinson@vindy.com