Work on courthouse continues
Work on the roof and the tower on top of the courthouse is getting closer to completion with the work on the east side nearly done. Repairs to the roof are complete and workers are preparing to put in a new HOP pad and tower.
The work is being done now that the communications hub for Putnam County Emergency Management Services has moved to a new center.
Repairs have been a long time coming to the courthouse roof. County officials decided earlier this year to wait until the 911 equipment was moved from the courthouse.
HOP is placing a tower on top of the roof and letting the county place equipment on it at no cost. County Planner Kim Hyten believes the tower will be in place by the end of November.
This will allow for communication between the Greencastle Fire Department, Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff's office, jail with the courthouse and annex.
"The last of the copper has been removed up there and steel put in its place," Hyten told the Banner Graphic.
Work on the Westside of the courthouse roof included the removal of all the old copper.
"The only place where there is any copper left is around the legs of the tower and we can't take it out until the tower goes in," added Hyten.
The new HOP tower will allow the courthouse and other county offices to prepare for future growth including the possibility of using video arraignment for the current courts and a possible third court.
"It all depends on what the space committee decides to do with the courthouse. We know more room is needed and there isn't enough space to move office to the annex," said County Planner Kim Hyten.
"The utility bills at the annex are killing us, the courts need new space and we're out of room in the courthouse. We need to be able to do some things like video arraignment in the future," he said.
Hyten also hopes to be able to add more surveillance to the courthouse in the form of cameras.
"I'd like to have a camera on each of the doors, on every floor and in the rotunda area at the very least," said Hyten.
"If people know they are being watched it may prevent them from doing something dangerous in the courthouse," he said.
Currently there are two sheriff deputies posted at the courthouse.
"Regardless of any new ideas for future growth, the courthouse roof needed a lot of work and the removal of the old tower and placement of HOP's tower was a good opportunity to get it done," said Hyten.