Tulsa County Courthouse employees face noise and dust challenges as major renovations continue

Some employees at the Tulsa County Courthouse are frustrated with the construction that's been happening the last few months.

They say the noise and dust make it very hard to work. The County Commissioners say they're aware of the complaints and are looking for solutions and making changes.

What is the construction for?

"Tearing off all the decaying brick that's on there, the decaying marble that is on there, replacing the windows from single pane to energy efficient windows, to putting insulation on the building," said Commissioner Stan Sallee, Tulsa County District One.

The heat and air conditioning systems will be upgraded, and there will be electrical improvements, including a total remodel of the elevators.

What are some of the concerns from courthouse employees?

It's created a lot of dust in the courthouse, and several employees say they're worried about Asbestos.

What have commissioners done to address this issue?

Commissioners say they hired JE Dunn Construction, which has removed any areas that had asbestos, and is compliant with all regulatory agencies.

"We've had also folks come in that give us a rating of if there's any residual asbestos, and we've had a clean bill of health. Everything was done perfectly and we have the paperwork to prove it," said Sallee.

When was the courthouse given the rating for a clean bill of health related to asbestos?

Sallee says in the last several months.

How has the noise impacted the courthouse?

Courthouse employees say it's also so noisy, sometimes judges have to stop court and reschedule.

What plans do commissioners have to fix the noise disruption?

Commissioners say they renovated the old Tulsa County Sheriff's Office a few blocks away to add five additional courtrooms there, for judges to hold court, starting next week.

"That will relieve a lot of pressure from the courthouse. It still won't fix all the noise issues and dust issues, but it will make a difference," said Sallee.

Do commissioners have any other plans to improve the courthouse during construction?

Commissioners say they are thinking about moving construction hours from noon to late evening, which would cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars. 

When will construction be completed?

By the end of 2026.

How much will the remodel cost?

$28,000,000

How old is the courthouse?

Nearly 70 years old.

Could commissioners build a new courthouse?

Commissioners talked about building a new courthouse, but said in the meantime, they had to make critical improvements to the current one.