Giving judge the chair no easy task

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

It's not "a no-brainer." It's not "a done deal." Trying to give the judge the chair isn't as easy as it sounds.

For sentimental reasons, retired Red Willow County Court Judge Cloyd Clark would like the high-backed, cushioned chair from his private chambers. Commissioner Leigh Hoyt -- often exasperated by government rules, regulations and red tape -- said Monday morning, during the commissioners' weekly meeting, he thought it would be "no big deal to get this done. As far as I'm concerned, he can have the chair, and we'll replace it."

However ...

To declare a piece of county property "surplus" means that it must be offered for sealed bids and sold to the highest bidder, according to the commissioners' official handbook. "There's no guarantee he can have it if it's declared surplus," said Commission Chairman Earl McNutt.

Clerk Magistrate Kathy Jones said her office would have to buy a chair to replace Judge Clark's chair, purchased probably in the 1970s or early 1980s. A replacement chair could cost $200 or up, said courthouse maintenance supervisor Greg Holthus.

Another fly in the ointment is that a previous board of commissioners refused a similar request, for an antique bench when another courthouse employee retired several years ago.

"If we allow this (Judge Clark's request), it'll stir a can of worms with a past request," Holthus said.

Hoyt said he could see a distinct difference -- the bench was an antique, possibly irreplaceable, and the judge's chair is relatively new, and easily replaced.

McNutt boiled it down, "It's all about money." Let Judge Clark have the chair, he said, requiring that he replace it with a new chair of equal or better value. Hoyt said, "We don't want him putting in a folding chair." And fellow commissioner Steve Downer chuckled, "The new judge probably doesn't want a folding chair either."

McNutt said he would "be the bad guy," and made a motion to decline the request that the judge's chair be declared surplus. Downer seconded the motion, offering the judge the opportunity to replace the chair with a chair of like quality. "We'd be getting a new chair at no cost to taxpayers," Downer said. "I don't care what kind of chair we have. I just don't want to have to buy one. This shouldn't be that big an issue."