COURT BACK IN SESSION

Court is fully back in session at the Steele County Courthouse in Owatonna after being shutdown for more than a year.
On Monday, the historic courthouse became fully operational again with three functional courtrooms. It comes with a heavy sigh of comfort for Robin Hoesley, who as court administrator coordinates a staff of 17 court personnel. “This is a huge sense of relief,” she said. “This is a fresh start and a new beginning.”
Ever since a water pipe burst forcing the closure of the entire structure 13 months ago, court hearings and trials have been scattered around Owatonna in various places. Many of the court proceedings took place in a makeshift courtroom on the third floor of the Owatonna Fire Station located across the street from the courthouse. 
Hoesley said the upheaval of being displaced from the courthouse created a logistical nightmare for court personnel. “It was chaotic and unpredictable,” she admitted. “It was a challenging year. We were unsure where we were going to conduct certain hearings,” she added. 
Security also became a big concern during the displacement. “It was a strain on the sheriff’s office to provide security to multiple locations,” Hoesley said. “A lot of credit goes to my team, the judges and bailiffs. They were extraordinarily patient and adaptable.”
The yearlong renovation has allowed the courthouse to be reconfigured into a “more functional and secure” facility, Hoesley said. 
Judge Karen Duncan will preside in Courtroom A on the second level while Judge Joseph Bueltel will be in Courtroom B on the third level. A third courtroom has also been added on the third level for visiting judges. Caseload in Steele County currently requires the need for 2.4 judges, which is down slightly from a few years ago, according to Hoesley.
Significant changes were made in Courtroom A where more seating has been added for the public, improved audio visual system and more space to reconfigure how court personnel operate. “The judge will be able to have a full view of the courtroom and a better sight line in the courtroom,” Hoesley said. “It will be more safe for the judge and court personnel,” she noted.
The court administration office is now located on the lower level of the courthouse. Probation has moved out of the building and into its own facility in the downtown area.
Hoesley said the renovation should carry the county well into the future. “It will make it a better courthouse for the next 10-15 years without adding on or building new,” she said, noting they were able to convince the county board that it was a good time to make the investment.
She reminds the public that full screening has returned at the courthouse. Big coats, backpacks and large purses are not allowed into the courthouse. 
Hoesley also hopes citizens find the heating and cooling systems more comfortable than what they had been in the past.
“We’re all going to feel good about working in this space,” Hoesley said. “We hope people will feel well served.”
A rededication of the courthouse is planned for May 1 with state, county and city dignitaries. More details will come out closer to the event. 

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