Schindler Elevator Corp.: Case Study

MILLERSBURG — Realizing there will be inconveniences to staff and the public, the Holmes County commissioners met Monday with representatives from the Holmes County courts and sheriff's office to plan for repair of the courthouse elevator, which will shut down the lift's operation for several weeks.
In February, the commissioners agreed to contract with Schindler Elevator Corp. for improvements to the elevator.
Construction is set to begin on Aug. 1 and should be completed by Halloween, according to the commissioners, who met with Common Pleas Judge Robert Rinfret, Juvenile/Probate Judge Thomas Lee and Bailiff Brad Conn, Municipal Judge Andrew Hyde, Sheriff Timothy W. Zimmerly, Chief Deputy Richard Haun and Sgt. Michael McElroy, who heads the

building's security.
Advised construction crews are likely to work four, 10-hour days during the construction period, the judges agreed Wednesdays would be the best weekday for work crews to be off. Nevertheless, once construction begins, the elevator will be out of service for the duration of the project.
Hyde, who holds regular court hearings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, said he would work with both Lee and Rinfret to juggle his schedule and make the only lower-level courtroom available to them when needed.

Previously Rinfret, told the commissioners that he, Clerk of Courts Ronda Steimel and Lee had discussed the matter and how can do business with anyone in need of service but unable to use the stairs to the second or third floors.
In most cases, that can be accommodated by moving some services to and meeting with customers on the first floor. Court hearings can be shifted to the first-floor municipal courtroom when the presence of inmates, currently incarcerated in the Holmes County Jail, is required. To force them to use the stairs while handcuffed and in leg shackles would present a hazard to the inmate and transport officers.
The only circumstance where business could not be shifted to the lower level, would be the case of a jury trial. That's because the municipal courtroom only has seating for eight jurors; felony cases require 12 jurors. In that case, anyone unable to use the stairs could be excused from jury duty and arrangements would be made to ensure safe movement of an incarcerated inmate to the

courtroom.
Rinfret said he would work with defense attorneys and the sheriff's office to conduct, by waiver of incarcerated defendant, as many hearings as possible via video conference from the jail. He also said all summonses, including those for potential jurors, will include instructions to contact the clerk of court's office if a medical condition limits anyone's ability to walk up the stairs to upper-level courts.
He said he would also contact neighboring counties to inquire about the availability of their courthouses should the need arise, most likely the result of a criminal trial.
McElroy said he and Deputy Steve Goudy, both assigned to courthouse security, will maintain a presence at the courthouse during all hours work crews are in the building. He said they will flex time to avoid overtime situations, which would, otherwise, cost the county additional money.
While “nothing is easy when you only have one elevator,” Commissioner Rob Ault said the logistics and cost associated with installing a temporary chair lift made the option prohibitive. Nevertheless, the commissioners said they will continue to work with courthouse personnel and are pleased with the spirit of cooperation among all.
The elevator, which has been in place for 40 years, has not once been upgraded, according to the commissioners, who note it has had some major issues, including several occasions on which riders became trapped on the elevator when it unexpectedly stopped between floors.
Major modernization of the elevator, to include improvements to the interior of the cab, is expected to cost $168,961, based on Schindler's bid.