Committee discusses Duval County Courthouse issues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's been open for nearly a year, but the problems that plagued the new Duval Country Courthouse are still not resolved.

Members of the City Council's courthouse oversight committee gathered Wednesday afternoon to revisit some of the issues surrounding the costly project.

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The courthouse has yet to pass a successful fire test this year. Officials took a look at the fire tests that were conducted and hope to have the last problems resolved in the next few days.

The courthouse's warranty with Turner Construction is up on Saturday, so officials are trying to get any other lingering problems fixed before then.

As for the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues, the city will now pay an additional $281,000 to pay for automatic door openers.

Some are wondering why there are no water fountains on the seventh floor, and they say they may need to be added at a later point.

Finally, the state attorney's office moving into the old federal courthouse still must be completed and may not be ready until 2015.

The mayor's staff says the courthouse is on budget for $350 million, but some council members are questioning  that figure and are wondering if there are some additional funds that should be added to the total cost.


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Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.