Open house at Historic Courthouse

Dodge County residents will get their chance for a behind-the-scenes look at the newly renovated Courthouse and Annex and Government Services Building from noon to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
In addition to the open house, there will be a rededication of the historic Dodge County Courthouse at 12:30 p.m. in the courtroom. The rededication will include the presentation of a plaque to District Court Judge Jodi Williamson and members of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners by Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson on behalf of the Minnesota State Supreme Court.
The Dodge County Courthouse is the oldest, continuously working courthouse in the state.
The Sept. 16 open house and rededication was scheduled by the Minnesota Judicial Branch as a celebration of Constitution Day, a federal day of observance during which Americans reflect on the rights and freedoms granted to them by the U.S. Constitution.
The Courthouse renovations were part of a larger county project that renovated the Courthouse Annex and transformed the former Mantorville Middle School into the Government Services Building.
Visitors will be able to tour all three of the government buildings.
With the opening of the Government Services Building earlier this year the county’s administrative and financial offices moved to the building as did the Land Office, Environmental Services and University of Minnesota Extension. The County Board also has a new boardroom.
Sheriff Scott Rose and members of his office will be on hand to show visitors the new Sheriff’s Office facilities including dispatch and booking areas.
Work in the Annex included extensive remodeling of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and the Human Services offices.
The Courthouse saw extensive renovations with the courtroom being remodeled as well as offices for administration, the county attorney and probation offices.
A major change at the Courthouse is the installation of a new security system. All visitors to the Courthouse are now required to go through a security checkpoint manned by a Dodge County deputy. Deputies are also able to view the courtroom, waiting areas, parking lots and areas in the Government Services Building through a closed-circuit television system.
All visitors to the Courthouse will be required to pass through the security system prior to entering for the open house. Deputies will check all purses, briefcases and bags and all persons must walk through the electronic security system, similar to those at airports.
Williamson advised those wishing to attend the courthouse rededication should arrive early and expect there may be delays due to the number of people passing through security.
Closed-circuit televising of the ceremony has been planned to handle any numbers that exceed courtroom capacity, she said.