6/23/07 - Courthouse work nears completion

Main park entrance to reopen sometime shortly after July 4

(As published by Cortland Standard, Corey Preston reporting)

For years, entering the Cortland County Courthouse has meant coming in through a back entrance, making your way down a dimly lit, low-ceilinged hall in the basement, passing through security and hiking up a set of stairs before it’s finally apparent that you’re in one of the area’s most impressive buildings.

In a matter of weeks, that will all change.

Phase one of the extensive renovations to the Courthouse is nearly complete, county officials said Friday, with the most significant change the reopening of the historic front entrance of the building, which overlooks Courthouse Park.

While the exact opening date of the front entrance is still unsure — County Administrator Scott Schrader said that original plans to have it opened by July 4 may have to be pushed back until the following week — work on renovating the front entrance and preparing for the relocation of security is nearly complete.

When the entrance does open, visitors to the Courthouse will enter through the door furthest right atop the courthouse steps, pass through a small security room, and then find themselves in the first floor lobby, beneath the soaring, ornate domed roof, said Security Coordinator Maxine Ripley.

“It’s going to be really nice, definitely a lot different than it used to be,” Ripley said Friday, as she showed off much of the work that’s been done so far.

Schrader said that ultimately the opening of the main front entrance could allow for a separate employee entrance in the basement, and should allow for improved security.
“And frankly, it provides a more professional appearance,” he said.

Currently the only work remaining is a punch list of small issues for the contractors to iron out, Schrader said, details that may have been overlooked or not completed.