Doddridge County Executive Summary

Front of Courthouse

The Doddridge County courthouse was built in 1903, and it is approximately 23,000 square feet. The building is on the historic register. The exterior walls are made of brick and stone. The exterior is in good condition, but we recommend the brick be cleaned and repointed.

The windows in this building were replaced 12 years ago. The doors are made of wood, and have been restored, but may need some additional work. We recommend refinishing the doors.

This building contains automatic fire detectors, manual detectors, smoke detectors, heat detectors, and there are some strobe lights with the horns. We recommend installing a firewall and doors at the second floor to enclose the stairs and a sprinkler system.

To bring this building up to ADA compatibility requirements, we recommend installing new 36” doors, new ADA signage. We also recommend installing an enclosed vertical ADA lift to access other floors. In addition, we recommend installing fire and strobe lights, insulated drain lines, and a witness stand/judges bench lift.

This building has extensive water damage that should be repaired as soon as possible. Also, the front step has settled on the right side of the entrance and will require repair to prevent tripping hazard. Several exterior porches have deterioration of stone spindles and banisters. We recommend the stone and front step be repaired.

To improve security in this building, we recommend this facility be equipped with an entry-level screening with an X-ray machine and walk through metal detector. All other doors should be protected with a card access system. Exit doors except the main entrance should be protected with audible alarms, magnetic contacts and crash bars. We recommend the closed circuit television system be extended throughout the secure areas of the courthouse. We also recommend that duress alarms should be installed beneath the judge’s desk, secretary’s desk, judge’s bench in the courtroom, hearing table in the jury room, and the clerk’s desk. The family court judge should be provided with a duress alarm. The adult and juvenile probation officers should have duress alarms installed at their desks and at the receptionist’s desk. Duress alarms should be installed beneath the prosecuting attorney’s desk, the receptionist’s desk, and the table in the conference room. Two duress alarms should be installed, one beneath the front counter and one beneath an office desk. Duress alarms should be installed beneath the magistrates’ desks, magistrates’ assistants’ desks, and the bench in the courtroom. In addition, there should be a security control panel, along with security renovations. We also recommend the judge’s bench and clerk’s desk should be protected on the front and sides that have public exposure with ballistic material. Also, all light switches should be replaced with key-controlled switches, and breaker boxes should be locked. In addition, interior electric door strike lock systems should be installed on the judges’ secretaries’ doors, and there should be a separate phone line installed to provide the courts and staff with outside communication in each courtroom.

The electrical system throughout the building is in poor condition. We recommend rewiring the building and installing new light fixtures. Several components are used in this building to heat and cool. We recommend installing a new central HVAC system.

There was a request for additional office and storage space. We recommend building new 20,000 square foot annex and a 5,000 square foot storage building.

Total cost for this project: $5,209,620.

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