The Case for a New Polk County Courthouse
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On April 29th, Polk County voters will decide whether we should fix the security and safety problems with the current courthouse and to build a facility that is large enough to meet the current demands of Polk County residents. Consider the following facts:
Overcrowding
- The current courthouse was built 108 years ago.
- The population of Polk County has increased by over 500% since the courthouse was erected.
- The courthouse was originally built for 4 courtrooms and now consists of 27 courtrooms jammed into every nook and cranny.
- More than 2,000 people enter the courthouse on average each day.
- The number of cases has nearly doubled in the last 15 years and will double again in the next 22 years.
- There are no meeting rooms in the courthouse for attorneys, litigants, witnesses, etc. Lawyers are often forced to meet in the hallway and run the risk of being overheard by jurors.
- Only 1 jury orientation room exists and it is woefully inadequate to hold all the jurors reporting on any given Monday.
- No disablity accommodation exists at the main entrance.
Security
- More people are arrested at the courthouse than any other place in Polk County.
- No security cameras exist in the courthouse.
- No baliffs or law enforcement exist in any of the courtrooms.
- In 2007 deputy sheriffs received over 500 calls for assistance.
- Prisoners, jurors, judges, attorneys and the general public all use the same corridors.
- No temporary jail or holding cell exists at the courthouse.
Safety
- The courthouse is not in compliance with fire codes. No sprinklers, no fire detection, no fire stairwells, no smoke evacuation system, etc.
- There is no adequate emergency power system.
- There is a mold problem and ventilation is not adequate.
- Rodent and infestation of cockroaches is a real problem. So bad the basement has been abandoned.
For more information please visit www.buildingforjustice.com. I encourage you to vote "Yes" for a new courthouse. If the facts described above do not persuade you, I implore you to go down to the courthouse and spend some time. Walk around. Make sure you go on a Monday morning. That will give you the best chance to observe the demands on our current courthouse. The need for a better facility is unquestionable.
photo on flickr by Turtlemoon.
I would love to be able to support such a necessary project, but with the level of corruption and corporate welfare it is hard for me to do it. How about taxing some of those new condos in downtown Des Moines instead of the typical abatement? How about requiring non profits to pay a portion of what is spent on their fire and police protection, which they currently get for free due to property tax avoidance. How about the Beaverdale school board scandal? The Polk County driver license station, subsidized horse racing, the list goes on and on. The money is there, spend it the courthouse instead.
Erich:
I thank you for your comment. I believe many others in Polk County share your attitude. Somehow our leaders need to regain the public trust. How that is done I am not sure but if the courthouse referendum passes it will be the obligation of those leading the project to do exactly as they promised and remain accountable to the public.
The need is there for the courthouse. The public needs to view this particular referendum in the appropriate context. It is easy to let the controversy of the past taint feelings about this project. But if you look at the merits of this project the clear answer is to vote "Yes".