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Posted: Apr 19, 2021 10:15 AMUpdated: Apr 19, 2021 10:20 AM

$229K Transferred for Wash. Co. Courthouse Renovations

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Garrett Giles

Over $229,000 was transferred from the Correctional Facility Fund to the General Fund by the Washington County Commissioners on Monday morning.

Commissioner Mitch Antle said this would be for improvements at the Washington County Courthouse in downtown Bartlesville. He said the work is possible now that the County Election Board has moved from the courthouse to City Hall across the street.

In response to what was seen during the coronavirus pandemic, Commissioner Antle said the improvements could allow for higher volume, quick turnover courts to take place on the first floor where the Election Board used to be. He said it'll be a more functional area for the courts to utilize.

In recent weeks, Commissioner Mike Dunlap said he had been talking with courthouse staff and Keleher Architects about the courthouse improvements. He said the hope is to remodel the first and second floor of the courthouse. He said they could turn the second floor into one large courtroom.

Two smaller courtrooms could be built on the first floor for traffic fines and other items of similar severity. Commissioner Dunlap said the hope is to bid the project and get it started this summer. He said the project will have to be worked on at night because of the business that will need to be conducted at the courthouse during the day.

With the transfer of funds, the Correctional Facility Fund has closed. It was formerly used to help facilitate the construction of the Washington County Correction Facility in Bartlesville.


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