Funding May Fall Short For Morton County Courthouse Project

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Grant funding is expected to fall short for $1.3 million in renovations to the Morton County Courthouse.

County commissioners debated last week whether the grant should focus on $120,000 for a new courthouse security system or a new court space featuring a courtroom, two district judge offices, court reporters offices, a conference room, client-attorney meeting rooms, a jury room and security offices.

Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier tells the Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/1WVjFAZ ) that there might only be $1 million available statewide in the State Courthouse Improvement Grant program and that Morton County might only receive up to $600,000 in grant funding.

Commission chairman Bruce Strinden says renovations to the Mandan courthouse's north entrance, where visitors pass through security, are most needed.