Old jury box will be out, curved table in for remodeled room

The jury box will be removed and the central portion of the judge's bench will be reconfigured as part of a horseshoe table as the Crow Wing County Board room is remodeled.

Accented with swirled marble, dark oak and stained glass, the historic courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse in Brainerd served county justice from 1920 until the Judicial Center was constructed nearby on Laurel Street.

When the judges moved out, the commissioners moved to the third floor in 2006 leaving their cramped space on the courthouse's second floor. Commissioners previously considered several options for the room. Tuesday they made the decision.

The rail and gallery benches will be unchanged. Wold Architects and Engineers is in charge of the project. The work will bring in new carpeting and oak wood from the jury box rail may be incorporated into the new table, but the final decision will rest with the contractors doing the work.

One of the improvements commissioners are looking for comes in better acoustics, more electrical outlets and options for technology in the future, such as televised meetings.

The curved board table is expected to include room for the administrator, auditor, county attorney and staff. Commissioners will have room for a monitor in front of them. The work is expected to cost $148,000.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.