County Commission members on Wednesday declined to approve a $59,820 purchase of 144 chairs for Criminal Court.
However, Finance Chairman Joe Graham said the commission will consider that chair purchase along with ones for General Sessions Court. He said another item he wanted to see in the new bid is a system for General Sessions Court that would allow display of evidence on video screens.
County Commission members initially indicated support for buying new chairs for the three courtrooms and jury rooms at Criminal Court. Judge Barry Steelman said the chairs had not been replaced since the Courts Building opened in February 1992. He said on two occasions attorneys had fallen through chairs at the courts.
Judge Steelman said the judges were mindful of spending taxpayer money and had been hesitant about asking for the items, but he said it was time for the update.
Commissioner Graham said he toured the courts and found the chairs to be "very old and worn out." However, he said he thought the bid for the 144 chairs was "extremely high."
CWC Office Furnishings had the low bid. There were six bid notifications and four responses.
Last week, the commission finance committee had a lengthy discussion on the chair issue and voted not to recommend approval.
On Wednesday, after a vote to deny, there was a vote to table the issue for further study.
The chairs are set to be placed in the jury boxes, jury deliberation rooms, defendant/attorney waiting and staging areas and staff chairs for the court officer, bailiff, witness and attorneys.
The chairs sought for General Sessions Court would be along the front of the courtrooms where the attorneys and prosecutors sit. Officials said the current chairs are so bad that District Attorney staff members often roll their office chairs into the courtroom and then back out when court is over.
Commissioner Graham said, "The need for the chairs is very great, but I would like to see a few minor things looked into."
For one thing, he said some of the chairs are "in really good shape. They are just dirty and old. We could recover them and save the taxpayers' money."