Pittsburg, PA
County courthouse closing at 2 p.m. this week
Jul. 18—Pittsburg County commissioners have agreed to shut the county courthouse at 2 p.m. every day this week, attributable to ongoing issues with ample air-con and air flow contained in the constructing.
Commissioners voted to shut the constructing at 2 p.m. starting on Tuesday, July 19. The courthouse will proceed to open to the general public at 8 a.m., mentioned Pittsburg County Fee Chairman/District 2 Commissioner Kevin Smith.
Smith mentioned there are issues with getting the gear wanted to improve the heating, air flow and air-con system on the courthouse, which has led to scorching temperatures contained in the constructing.
Temperatures have been as excessive as 80 levels in a number of the rooms and workplaces contained in the courthouse final Friday, Smith mentioned. With exterior temperatures forecast as excessive as 110 levels in McAlester on Tuesday, Smith predicted the temperature inside some courthouse workplaces might rise into the 90s.
“It is insufferable to the workers and public,” Smith mentioned.
Though the courthouse is at the moment within the midst of upgrades to its HVAC system, Smith mentioned the issue is with a coil that operates 4 of the models on the courthouse roof. Smith mentioned the half is now not manufactured, so it is having to be custom-built for the courthouse system.
“The models are nonetheless advantageous,” Smith mentioned.
Pittsburg County Clerk Hope Trammell mentioned her workers would fall too far behind dropping two hours of labor whereas closing early every day, so she’s going to have her staff are available in early. Pittsburg County Assessor Michelle Fields and County Treasurer Jennifer Hackler had not but decided on the time of the commissioners’ Monday assembly in the event that they have been going to have their staffs are available in early as properly.
Even when some courthouse staff do are available in earlier, the general public is not going to be admitted till 8 a.m., mentioned Smith.
District 1 Commissioner Charlie Rogers and District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman joined Smith for a unanimous vote to shut the courthouse at 2 p.m. on July 19 via July 22 .
Smith mentioned the closing is due solely to the gear used to chill the power, not due to any try and preserve electrical energy.
“It is strictly because of the air-conditioning,” he mentioned.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.