HERMANN — Renovation in Gasconade County’s man courtroom is about to run smack into the start of what could be a busy year of trials — a move prompting a scramble by county administrators to accommodate both things.

The County Commission Thursday learned that two trials — one a two-day affair, the other a one-day proceeding — are scheduled in the second-floor courtroom during the time previously set aside to allow renovation work on the courtroom floor and the second-story floor outside the courtroom.

A potential problem is that the courtroom likely will be filled with prospective jurors and others associated with the trials which would make renovation on the floor inside the courtroom unlikely. Further, during breaks in the juror-selection process, prospective jurors are expected to be waiting outside the courtroom around the rotunda and in other parts of the second floor, which would hamper the renovation work in those areas.

The two-day trial is set for April 8-9 with the second trial of the year scheduled on April 21. Those jury trials could be moved to either Franklin County or Osage County — the other counties in the 20th Judicial Circuit; however, County Clerk Lesa Lietzow, who informed the Commission of the potential scheduling conflict, said Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston wants the cases heard by a Gasconade County jury and is opposed to a change of venue for the proceedings.

Work on the second-story flooring is the latest project in the renovation of the historic Courthouse, which came about in conjunction with the installation of a new roof in 2018. The work is scheduled to run from late March to late April. County administrators will discuss the possible conflict with Hermann-area contractor Glen Englert, who has done much of the renovation work in the Courthouse.

Earlier this year, Weston told the Commission that after having no jury trials here in 2019, there are about a half-dozen trials scheduled during this year.

In other matters, a presentation to county officials by Gasconade County Enhanced 911 Executive Director Lisa Schlottach originally set for Thursday, March 5, will be rescheduled. Schlottach will be discussing the non-emergency calls portion of the service provided to various county offices.

The issue of billing for non-emergency calls — which affects the Sheriff’s Department, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Circuit Clerk’s Office — arose during this year’s county operating budget process. The officeholders were unclear about exactly what they were being billed for regarding the non-emergency calls.

The County Commission attended the January session of the 911 Board of Directors to learn more about this portion of the billing, which amounted to about $42,000 in payments in 2019. At that time, Schlottach suggested making a presentation to any interested county government officials about the service, which includes such things as running criminal history checks prior to court appearances, entering warrants and orders of protection and other items.

The scheduled March 5 meeting was to be held at Owensville City Hall. The Commission meets there the first Thursday of each month to provide an opportunity for residents and local officials in the southern portion of the county to meet with county officials without having to travel to Hermann.

Commissioners said they would prefer to have Schlottach make her presentation in the Commission Chamber in the Courthouse, which would allow any county officeholders who wished to attend — especially the prosecuting attorney and circuit clerk, both of whom probably would not be able to attend a session in Owensville because on Thursday mornings they usually prepare for that day’s court proceedings.

A specific date has yet to be set for Schlottach’s presentation.