Wichita County Courthouse Renovated Entrance Will Open Soon
By: Melissa Foy
Updated: September 24, 2012
A place for everything and everything in its place.
That's what can be said of the new and improved Wichita County Courthouse, which many say was in need of a do-over.
Bill Presson, precinct four commissioner, says, "Everyone was just crammed into offices. We had 18,500 square feet that wasn't being utilized on two. We've taken advantage of that. Everybody has a place now."
Parts of the second floor have been completely re-done, and include a new courtroom and meeting room for commissioners.
The first floor got some updates, too, including a new entrance, new offices for the central magistrate and warrants and collection office, and a polling place for early voters.
"We've done floor treatments, wall treatments. It's more secure that it's ever been," Presson says.
So what do better working places and more convenient facilities mean for the taxpayer?
Presson says the funds were already on hand in the permanent improvement fund, so did not affect tax rates in recent years or in the new budget
Second flood renovations cost about $1.5-million, $100-thousand was budgeted for unforeseen costs, and first floor renovations cost $244-thousand.
"That has grown over the years. We haven't had a permanent improvement tax in several years. We had the money to do what we told the people we were going to do, and that is renovate the second floor with new offices and work on the first floor," Presson says.
Even after these renovations, Presson says there's leftover money in the permanent improvement fund, and some of that money could be used to renovate county and district clerks offices in the near future.
The new entrance to the courthouse is set to open in the next couple weeks.
That's what can be said of the new and improved Wichita County Courthouse, which many say was in need of a do-over.
Bill Presson, precinct four commissioner, says, "Everyone was just crammed into offices. We had 18,500 square feet that wasn't being utilized on two. We've taken advantage of that. Everybody has a place now."
Parts of the second floor have been completely re-done, and include a new courtroom and meeting room for commissioners.
The first floor got some updates, too, including a new entrance, new offices for the central magistrate and warrants and collection office, and a polling place for early voters.
"We've done floor treatments, wall treatments. It's more secure that it's ever been," Presson says.
So what do better working places and more convenient facilities mean for the taxpayer?
Presson says the funds were already on hand in the permanent improvement fund, so did not affect tax rates in recent years or in the new budget
Second flood renovations cost about $1.5-million, $100-thousand was budgeted for unforeseen costs, and first floor renovations cost $244-thousand.
"That has grown over the years. We haven't had a permanent improvement tax in several years. We had the money to do what we told the people we were going to do, and that is renovate the second floor with new offices and work on the first floor," Presson says.
Even after these renovations, Presson says there's leftover money in the permanent improvement fund, and some of that money could be used to renovate county and district clerks offices in the near future.
The new entrance to the courthouse is set to open in the next couple weeks.
