City officials, presenting the administration’s position on the delay in opening the new Duval County Courthouse, were not optimistic Tuesday for a speedy resolution.
Karen Bowling, Mayor Alvin Brown’s deputy chief of staff, said the City is committed to moving equipment and personnel back to the old courthouse so that court operations could resume.
The building was emptied the week of May 21 in anticipation of the new Duval County Courthouse in LaVilla opening May 29.
Only emergency hearings have been held since the move began. Most functions of the clerk of the circuit and County courts have been temporarily shifted to satellite offices.
Bowling said the City considered other options before deciding to return to the 54-year-old building along East Bay Street.
“Even though it’s not a great option, it’s the best option,” she said.
Cleaning of the old courthouse is expected to be completed today and the move is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. “It’s the City’s responsibility to get the courts running Monday,” said Bowling.
City Procurement Chief Greg Pease said his staff is gathering the requirements and data they need to plan the move back into the vacant building.
The goal is to “meet the target date and control costs,” he said.
Pease said he had no estimate of the cost of the return to the former courthouse.
Bowling said the task is made easier because the telephone system is still connected. The City plans to move and rent as little furniture as possible for the interim location.
As far as a timeline for moving again into the new courthouse, Bowling said the building could pass its fire safety inspection as soon as this week, or it could take longer.
“It could be two months,” she said.
Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department Chief Marty Senterfitt said the building has failed 10 fire safety tests. As of Tuesday, he said no further tests have been scheduled.
Senterfitt left open the possibility that some areas of the new building could be opened before the entire structure is certified for occupancy.
One suggestion supported by the judiciary would be to open some floors of the new courthouse under a “fire watch” condition.
That would require assigning personnel for the sole purpose of immediately contacting emergency responders in the event of a fire.
Senterfitt said the viability of instituting a fire watch will depend on the results of future safety tests.
“We have to get to a certain level of success before we can consider a fire watch. We’re not at that level of success,” he said.
Bowling said the City has no plans to move again into the new building until after all required certifications are in place.
“Our goal is to be able to open a safe courthouse,” she said.
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