District Court Judge Chuck Sinnard has worked in the Dallas County Courthouse for over two decades. Since then, the community has changed drastically, jumping from a population of just over 40,000 people to almost 120,000. And it’s left the courthouse struggling to keep up.”In that time, we’ve added one courtroom to this courthouse to accommodate that growth,” Sinnard said. That rapid growth has the county asking voters to approve over $66 million in funding to build a new criminal courthouse in Adel. The current courthouse was built over 120 years ago and holds 6 courtrooms — one of which is under construction — for all of the county’s civil and criminal trials. Until construction finishes, only three of those courtrooms are big enough to seat a full-size jury.But compared to counties of comparable size, Sinnard says Dallas County is falling behind.”We’re going to have a total of six courtrooms, four for jury trials and two for what we call bench trials,” he said. “The Blackhawk County courthouse has thirteen courtrooms. Eight for jury trials and five for bench trials.”Because of this, he says it’s not uncommon to have to move cases to neighboring counties, thus putting a bigger financial burden on those being represented, since they have to pay for lawyers to travel. But space isn’t the only concern. Even the biggest courtroom, which sits on the third floor, has its issues.”Every Friday, they will transport inmates in here and there will be between 10 to over 20 inmates sitting in the pews right behind me,” Sinnard said, gesturing to one half of the public gallery. He then gestured to a second set of pews only a few feet away from the first set. There is no wall or barrier between the two sections.”This is where the public sits,” he said. If voters approve the bond, the current courthouse would be used for civil cases only. However, this year’s attempt is not the first time county officials have hoped to pass it.Last year, voters disapproved the bond 51% to 49%. It needs at least 60% approval to pass.Since last year’s vote, the cost of the bond has increased by almost $10 million. “I certainly am in no position to tell people how to vote,” Sinnard said. “I can only tell you about what our number show with our cases. And what that shows is for a need for this court space.”

ADEL, Iowa —

District Court Judge Chuck Sinnard has worked in the Dallas County Courthouse for over two decades.

Since then, the community has changed drastically, jumping from a population of just over 40,000 people to almost 120,000.

And it’s left the courthouse struggling to keep up.

“In that time, we’ve added one courtroom to this courthouse to accommodate that growth,” Sinnard said.

That rapid growth has the county asking voters to approve over $66 million in funding to build a new criminal courthouse in Adel.

The current courthouse was built over 120 years ago and holds 6 courtrooms — one of which is under construction — for all of the county’s civil and criminal trials. Until construction finishes, only three of those courtrooms are big enough to seat a full-size jury.

But compared to counties of comparable size, Sinnard says Dallas County is falling behind.

“We’re going to have a total of six courtrooms, four for jury trials and two for what we call bench trials,” he said. “The Blackhawk County courthouse has thirteen courtrooms. Eight for jury trials and five for bench trials.”

Because of this, he says it’s not uncommon to have to move cases to neighboring counties, thus putting a bigger financial burden on those being represented, since they have to pay for lawyers to travel.

But space isn’t the only concern. Even the biggest courtroom, which sits on the third floor, has its issues.

“Every Friday, they will transport inmates in here and there will be between 10 to over 20 inmates sitting in the pews right behind me,” Sinnard said, gesturing to one half of the public gallery.

He then gestured to a second set of pews only a few feet away from the first set. There is no wall or barrier between the two sections.

“This is where the public sits,” he said.

If voters approve the bond, the current courthouse would be used for civil cases only. However, this year’s attempt is not the first time county officials have hoped to pass it.

Last year, voters disapproved the bond 51% to 49%. It needs at least 60% approval to pass.

Since last year’s vote, the cost of the bond has increased by almost $10 million.

“I certainly am in no position to tell people how to vote,” Sinnard said. “I can only tell you about what our number show with our cases. And what that shows is for a need for this court space.”