Courthouse remains closed, Safety Building opens with hiccups

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Courthouse remains closed as crews clean up after a weekend electrical fire. However, on Wednesday, the Public Safety Building was reopened, and criminal cases are being heard there. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said Wednesday he is hoping the Courthouse will reopen next week.

Lines were long at the Public Safety Building as it reopened Wednesday -- and there were temporary power outages.

"There's going to be bumps but it's not stopping people from doing their work," Abele said Wednesday.

Facilities Maintenance Manager Gary Waszak says there is an issue with little electrical power, and says small generators are being replaced with bigger ones to get things up and running.

"We are trying to determine and again assess on a minute-by-minute basis. The fact is we're doing the best we can and there may be other disruptions," Waszak said.

As of Wednesday, all electricity was out at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Every ceiling tile needs to be replaced, and crews are working to clean the place up and make repairs. 

"I'd rather be right than be rushed," Abele said.

The Criminal Justice Facility and Public Safety Building are open for cases.

It was another day of confusion for many who showed up at the Courthouse and Public Safety Building Wednesday.

"I don't really understand what's going on. I'm not a criminal. I'm not used to this," Laketa Collins said.

"I went to the courthouse, and I seen the sign up saying it was closed," Brandin Northern said.

"They told us to come here in the first place, then they told us to go there and now it's…frustrating," Stephanie McDonald said.

Inside the Public Safety Building, electricity was weak and elevators stopped working.

"Now they saying both elevators are down. Now they're saying take the stairs. I took the stairs," Collins said.

"The scope and scale of what we're doing here is not insignificant. It's big," Abele said.

As a reminder, criminal cases are being heard in the Public Safety Building. Intake is being handled at the Criminal Justice Facility. Jury trials have been postponed until next week.