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Colorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
______
Nov. 15, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
Elbert County court business returns to Kiowa
The mitigation and reassessment of mold contamination in the Elbert County Justice Center is continuing. Arrangements to more effectively meet the needs of county residents through the end of November are now available. One of the significant recent changes is that all of the clerks have returned to Elbert County locations.
“It has been very challenging for the court clerks to conduct business from remote locations,” says Karen Salaz, Office of the State Court Administrator. “Facilitating their return has been accomplished through the close cooperation of Elbert County officials and the district attorney’s office with the courts.”
One additional desk and phone/computer connection has been added in each of two locations. One station was added in the district attorney’s trailer and a second in the annex building to consolidate court business back in Kiowa.
The Justice Center will remain closed until all mitigation and reconstruction work has been completed. It is estimated that it will be late November or early December before the entire Justice Center will be completed. The interior of the court building should be completely reconstructed and cleaned, and all computers and telephones installed and reconnected by that time.
Ultimately, the re-entry will be contingent upon the results of future testing and completion of any associated work that may be required. The temporary facilities and operations remain in place until the project is completed and deemed acceptable by all parties. There will be ongoing corrective processes by the county to moisture proof the exterior of the building.
Engineers have found the primary factor contributing to the mold contamination in the Justice Center to be water seepage into the facility. A number of building construction problems have been identified contributing to the problem. Mitigation actions have primarily included removal of contaminated drywall, insulation, carpeting and ceiling panels. Outside the facility sprinklers will be moved away from the building and gutters replaced.
Please reference the following information if you need to conduct business through Nov. 30, 2004. Additional updated information will be distributed as it becomes available:
1. Court personnel are accepting filings, posting data, processing files, and payments from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the county annex building however direct phone access is not available in this location.
2. To contact clerk’s office personnel by phone, please call 303-621-2131 and press ext. 1013.This will connect you with court clerks located in the district attorney’s trailer.
3. Proceedings set on Judge Sidel’s county court docket for Nov. 17 will be heard at the Ag Building at the fairgrounds.
4. Judge Thomas Curry will hear all Elbert County district court matters scheduled for the week of Nov. 15 in Division 1 of the Douglas County Justice Center.
5. Magistrate Christine Chauche’s dependency and neglect docket will be held in Arapahoe District Court Div. 306 on Nov. 17.
6. Magistrate Beth Elliott-Dumler will be conducting status conferences on Nov. 18 in Douglas County, Division 4W.
7. All hearings scheduled for the week of Nov. 22 in Division 1 before Judge Angela Arkin will be heard at the Douglas County Justice Center in Courtroom 4.
8. Probation business will be conducted out of the Douglas County Justice Center until further notice. Please call the main number with any questions: 303-814-7170.
*The Eighteenth Judicial District includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
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