Grant will give sheriff a break
Accessibility issues have plagued courthouse for years
By Meagan Sexton Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, August 15, 2008
PENDER, NEB.-- Imagine carrying a 200-pound plus man up and down 20 steps in order to get him to and from a court room. This has been Thurston County Sheriff Chris Kleinberg and other officers responsibility for years because the Thurston County courthouse lacked appropriate resources for the disabled.
With a small elevator that only reaches the second floor, officers carry those who cannot make it the rest of the way.
Kleinberg is ready to celebrate the expansion of the courthouse after irritating an existing shoulder injury while carrying a 220-pound man with a broken ankle up to a court hearing on Thursday.
"I can't wait," he said with excitement in his voice.
The expansion will include an elevator that will reach all the floors of the building, a waiting area, and handicapped-accessable bathrooms.
Kleinberg figures he's carried someone up the stairs at least a dozen times.
"If it's a lighter person I don't remember it as much," he said.
Teri Lamplot, chairman of the Thurston County Board of Supervisors, said in a written statement the 2,100-square-foot, three-story addition was made possible with two federal earmarks totaling almost $400,000 and other grants.
She said the funds were instrumental in helping the county meet the federal requirements to become compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
"Currently we don't have any way to get a person in a wheelchair to a court room," Lamplot said. "The Sheriff's Department had to carry people up the stairs. We also have had meetings elsewhere, like downstairs, where people didn't have to be carried up. We would move things to be accessible."
Kleinberg said he knows it must be hard for those individuals that need assistance.
"I would imagine it (being carried up stairs) would be terrifying," he said. "I'm a fairly good sized guy but I wouldn't feel very comfortable with that."
The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the courthouse.
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com.
With a small elevator that only reaches the second floor, officers carry those who cannot make it the rest of the way.
Kleinberg is ready to celebrate the expansion of the courthouse after irritating an existing shoulder injury while carrying a 220-pound man with a broken ankle up to a court hearing on Thursday.
"I can't wait," he said with excitement in his voice.
The expansion will include an elevator that will reach all the floors of the building, a waiting area, and handicapped-accessable bathrooms.
Kleinberg figures he's carried someone up the stairs at least a dozen times.
"If it's a lighter person I don't remember it as much," he said.
Teri Lamplot, chairman of the Thurston County Board of Supervisors, said in a written statement the 2,100-square-foot, three-story addition was made possible with two federal earmarks totaling almost $400,000 and other grants.
She said the funds were instrumental in helping the county meet the federal requirements to become compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
"Currently we don't have any way to get a person in a wheelchair to a court room," Lamplot said. "The Sheriff's Department had to carry people up the stairs. We also have had meetings elsewhere, like downstairs, where people didn't have to be carried up. We would move things to be accessible."
Kleinberg said he knows it must be hard for those individuals that need assistance.
"I would imagine it (being carried up stairs) would be terrifying," he said. "I'm a fairly good sized guy but I wouldn't feel very comfortable with that."
The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the courthouse.
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com.
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