Marshall County Council members took time Monday morning to consider an additional appropriation for the proposed Marshall County Courthouse renovation project.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer reminded the council members that the council previously agreed to put $1 million toward the project out of the Rainy Day Fund. He said the bids came in for clock tower work and general renovation of brick, mortar and windows at the courthouse and the commissioners agreed to accept the lowest qualified bid and all six alternates.
Overmyer said, “The commissioners felt as we are doing this work we might as well get it completed and do it all at once instead of piecemealing this, especially with it being the 150th anniversary next year. There’s not a fire suppression up in that clock tower and that’s one of the things we’re putting up there in the cost of $150,000-$200,000.
Volunteer Principal Investigator Kurt Garner said the courthouse has not seen a rehabilitation project in just over 100 years. The courthouse is approaching its 150th anniversary in 2022 and the commissioners would like to see all of the work done ahead of the anniversary celebration.
Garner gave a little construction history to the council members.
“The cost to construct the building was $110,000,” commented Garner. “In adjusted numbers, that equals close to $5 million today. If you employed the same skills and materials, and that’s in real dollars, one could easily multiply that number by 10. So, that would be about a $50 million building to rebuild.”
The additional appropriation for the renovation work would be $600,000, which gives a little room for extra costs, just in case. Overmyer noted that the commissioners approved a contract last week with Midwest Maintenance, Inc. out of Piqua, Ohio pending the approval of the additional appropriation. The contract sum, including alternates, is $1,496,935.
Councilman Jesse Bohannon asked where the money would come from and Auditor Julie Fox pointed to the additional appropriation advertisement which called for the money from the Rainy Day Fund. Fox was asked if the LIT fund could handle that request, but Fox said she would have to research that. If that is permissible, another appropriation request could be advertised to take the $600,000 from there. For now, the council members voted unanimously to approve the additional appropriation out of the Rainy Day Fund.
