Down to only one elevator in 15-story Jackson County courthouse, judge demands action

Stairways in the 15-story Jackson County Courthouse have been getting a lot of use since a water main break knocked out two of the four public elevators last January.

Occasionally, one of the two working elevators will also go on the blink, which is what happened again this week — and circuit court Presiding Judge David Byrn has had enough.

On Thursday, Byrn called out County Executive Frank White for failing to fix the problem by now. Calling the lack of adequate elevator service “absolutely unacceptable,” Byrn said county government is violating its legal obligation to maintain the courthouse, through which 2,000 people pass each weekday.

“...the difficulties and challenges imposed on our residents and citizens, jurors, litigants, attorneys and any individual who comes to this building are immense,” Byrn wrote in his letter, which was hand delivered to White’s second-floor office, three floors below Byrn’s.

Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article234072682.html