2. District Court improvements - Laserfiche WebLink

~faft llf ~llrt4 ~akllb: RECEIVED AU6 3 2005 DISTRICT COURT EAST CENTRAL JUDICIAL DISTRICT CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE BOX 2806 FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA 58108 (701) 241-5680 TDD 239-6784 Honorable Georgia Dawson Presiding District Judge Honorable Douglas R. Herman District Judge Honorable John C. Irby District Judge Honorable Steven L. Marquart District Judge CASS COUNTY COMMISSION August 3, 2005 Honorable Steven E. McCullough District Judge Honorable Frank L. Racek District Judge Honorable Cynthia Rothe-Seeger District Judge Honorable Wade L. Webb District Judge Darrell Vanyo Cass County Commissioner P.O. Box 2806 Fargo, ND 58108-2806 Dear Commissioner Vanyo: This letter is respectfully submitted to you and the Cass County Commission for your consideration at your next regular meeting. As you may be aware, Cass County was completely shut out of the second round of funding by the Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee last month. A relatively modest request of approximately $100,000 was submitted. We were quite hopeful of success since a mere $47,500 was requested and awarded in the first round. Unfortunately, we received nothing out of $339,822 available second round funds. What makes this especially galling is that Cass County contributed approximately $325,000 to the fund from July 2003 to June 2005. Even worse, we are precluded from making any additional requests for at least one year. Given the size of the jurisdiction the East Central Judicial District serves, we simply cannot be dependent for our improvement and maintenance needs solely on the Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee, especially in light of the apparent political vagaries of that body. The fund was never intended to provide 100% of the Court's improvement and maintenance needs, but rather, to supplement those needs. That fund was never intended to replace Cass County's statutory obligation to house the Court. I have been informed that no further improvements are planned until state funds are available. There are certain items on our rejection list that simply cannot wait a year to be addressed. Some create safety concerns. Some affect our ability to serve the public. They are as follows: 1. Certain areas of carpeting are buckled and detached from the floor - certainly an accident waiting to happen (third floor hallway and the Clerk's offices);