Even the flag is tattered at the city courthouse at Rolling Bay.

The city’s new judge has modest immediate goals for the modest Rolling Bay courthouse she inherited in July.

But Municipal Court Judge Kate Carruthers has a grand vision for the future.

In the long-term, Carruthers is advocating for a new shared courthouse and police headquarters facility.

In the near future, she wants to expand the court to include small claims cases, reduce paper use in favor of electronic data storage and boost the public’s understanding of the municipal court through improved outreach and a more comprehensive and interactive online site.

Carruthers’ immediate goals are more simple, including the replacement of a tattered American flag, a court bench ready to collapse and chairs she said can easily be converted into dangerous projectiles by unruly court visitors.

“These improvements are not to make (the courthouse) look pretty,” Carruthers told the City Council on Monday during her pitch for $10,000 worth of upgrades included in the 2007 proposed budget.

“The chairs can be picked up and thrown at witnesses or the judge,” she said. “The counter, if you lean on it, will fall (and could) result in injuries. The two flags we have are very old and frayed and should have a better appearance.”

Coun­cil­ors chuckled at Carruthers’ re­quest, which amounts to two ten-thousandths of one percent of the city’s proposed $56 million budget for next year.

“It’s a slam-dunk,” said Councilman Bill Knobloch.

“I have no heartburn about what’s in your budget request,” added Councilman Nezam Tooloee.

Councilwoman Debbie Vancil said the money is well-justified, especially in light of added revenues generated by increased demand for passports.

Carruthers outlined grander projects she’d like to see in the near future, including the expansion of the court to include small claims.

“Right now, you have to go to Silverdale,” Carruthers said. “Having small claims (at the Bainbridge Courthouse) would be much more convenient for citizens here.”

In addition, Court Administrator Telma Hauth’s job should be increased to full-time, Carruthers said. Hauth currently splits her time between Bainbridge court and the municipal court of Poulsbo.

“I urge you to make Telma full-time,” Carruthers said. “She’s been invaluable to me.”

Knobloch said he’d support expanding Hauth’s role.

“I do not like sharing Telma with any other municipality,” he said.

Carruthers also expressed hopes for a new court Web page providing detailed instructions on court procedures; a downtown Winslow kiosk to deposit parking ticket payments; increased public outreach to educate residents on the role of the municipal court in the community; and an initiative to achieve a “paperless court.”

“We have a huge amount of files collected each year,” she said. “A paperless court would be more efficient and would save a lot of trees.”

But the greater challenge on the horizon is the courthouse itself. Municipal court proceedings are conducted in space the city rents in a commercial area at Rolling Bay.

“I encourage all of you to see it for yourselves,” Carruthers said to the council. “It’s not safe for anyone – not staff, not the plaintiffs, not the public.”

According to Hauth, the courtroom’s ground-level location and windows could endanger staff and witnesses inside.

“A violent offender could just shoot you through the windows,” she said.

Last year, the council approved a $12,000 study to assess the need for a new joint police and court facility.

Carruthers said the city should continue to explore this option.

“It’s well justified,” she said.

Police and Carruthers’ predecessor on the bench have also strongly endorsed the shared facility proposal.

Former municipal court judge Steve Holman called the present courthouse a “glorified storage shed,” while also citing numerous safety concerns.

Police Chief Matt Haney in June characterized the courthouse as “an embarrassment” and unfit for “conducting dignified proceedings.”