SYCAMORE – What used to be a children’s waiting room at the DeKalb County Courthouse is now a waiting space for people representing themselves in court cases.

The DeKalb County Board voted this week, 23-0, to approve the measure to repurpose the room, which is located on the first floor of the courthouse. County board member Kiara Jones was absent from the meeting. There was no additional discussion amongst county board members before the vote.

The ordinance states the $10 fee that was previously collected for the children’s waiting room will now be collected for the self help room fund “to allow for the establishment and outfitting of a SLR Self Help Room.” County officials previously confirmed Dec. 1 that the room can be turned back into a children’s waiting room, should the need ever arise again.

DeKalb County Administrator Brian Gregory said during the Dec. 1 county board meeting the circuit clerk received a grant for about $8,000 meant for equipment.

“This would take it a step further and would set up computers and equipment that somebody who’s representing themselves can file, rather than bring it back to the circuit clerk’s office, but also do research and prepare their defense,” Gregory said.

Gregory said there is an existing funds for what used to be the children’s waiting room. He said money will sit where it is in the budget until county staff has a better idea of what state law allows for the transfer of those funds and whether it would require a budget amendment to be passed to do so.

According to the ordinance text, the children’s waiting room in the courthouse initially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic also affected availability of courthouse computers for public use to view court records or file court documents.

The move “has revealed shifting circumstances and needs of the general public,” the ordinance states. The 23rd Judicial Circuit Court and county board deemed it necessary to establish the self represented litigant self help room for “onsite filing and viewing of the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk’s electronic files,” per the ordinance.