Palmer court drying out; expansion work continues

PALMER — Soaked more than a week ago by a broken sprinkler pipe, the Palmer courthouse is almost dried out, all courtrooms are operating again and the routine is almost back to normal.

Water drenched five of the court’s six courtrooms Feb. 7, and the next day judges were tag-teaming in the one remaining courtroom. By Monday, most of the courtrooms were usable. By Tuesday, all six were operational.

Debbie Miller, chief deputy clerk at the courthouse, said about 10 fans are still blowing in the hallway that leads to judges’ chambers behind the courtrooms. Judges are back in their chambers, but some still come to work in the clerk’s office to escape the noise.

“The issue now is the carpets seem to be dry, but the sheetrock is still showing signs of moisture,” Miller said.

Servicemaster of the Valley has been by every day checking moisture levels in the wall, she said. The company still has to leave fans blowing until the moisture drops below a certain percentage.

“We’re just back to the regular level of chaos when it comes to a building remodel,” said Wendy Lyford, area court administrator for the state’s Third Judicial District.

Miller said the courthouse expansion project is due to wrap up in June. When completed, the $5 million project will add three courtrooms and additional judges’ chambers and offices to the north side of the building.

Office space has been cozy at the courthouse for nearly a year. Two Superior Court judges, Kari Kristiansen and Vanessa White, were sworn in March 8, 2007, without permanent offices. Space has become more cramped since then in order to accommodate construction for the expansion.

The court has also moved some operations to the old Valley Hospital, now the Palmer State Offices Building. The grand jury meets there in a spacious room and was a welcome change from the previously cramped quarters, Miller said.

“I wouldn’t call it plush, but better than what we had,” Miller said.

Lyford said crews have remodeled spaces in the hospital to house mediation meetings, a law library and jury assembly, but those spaces aren’t yet in use. As of now, jury pools are still assembling at the courthouse’s main building.

The eventual plan is to move public defenders, probation officers and district attorneys into the building, Lyford said.