Logan County Courthouse restoration includes elevator, HVAC and technology systems, and input of office holders

 

[May 27, 2020] 

At the special board meeting Thursday, April 30, Building and Grounds Committee Chairman David Blankenship gave some updates on the progress toward the courthouse restoration.

Though the dome is still a top priority, Blankenship said there are other areas that need to be addressed soon.

One issue is the inside elevator that five years ago had extensive work done at a cost of $144,572.79.

Blankenship said in 2015, Kone replaced the controller, door operator, hall and car buttons, the cab interior, the governor, the governor’s ropes, the rope gripper, the motor and the wiring. The traction machine, elevator car sling and platforms, rails, counterweights and counterweight ropes were all reused.

Since then, Blankenship said there has been eleven service calls with repairs costing a total of $14,155.58. In addition, the county has spent $111.17 per month for a lube and inspection contract.

Currently, the county is attempting to acquire an obsolete sheave pulley that if secured will require all new elevator ropes/cables. The sheave pulley, cables and exhaustive labor are estimated to cost anywhere between $35,000 and $60,000. If custom manufacturing is not available, the elevator machine will have to be replaced and that cost would be somewhere between $80,000 and $100,000.

Both Blankenship and Walter are looking into the availability of parts and various options to resolve the reliability issues. Regardless of the action taken, the county is facing extended downtime. It would take four to eight weeks to get the pulley and 12 to 14 weeks for a whole new machine.

Blankenship, Walter and a Kone elevator representative met to plan a course of action.

Blankenship said the persistent elevator problems and continued lack of mechanical system reliability represent unnecessary financial drains on the county budget.

Other updates:

Some public officials have expressed concerns with the current condition of boiler and the potential of a catastrophic winter 2021 breakdown. Blankenship was asked about retrofitting a new boiler prior to winter 2021. He strongly advised the board to not take that approach due to the necessity of matching the new boiler to the current heat distribution system (piping/registers etc…).

Numerous pipes are leaking. Blankenship said there are a myriad of other problems, so the current heat distribution is not efficient.

Blankenship said the optimum approach would be a placement of a mechanical room on each level of the courthouse. This approach would allow for a dedicated zone controlled heating and cooling system on each level.

The system would be designed and engineered with computer logic control that would respond if a single heating system fails by calling upon another system to compensate for the loss until repairs can be made.

Such a system will provide maximum energy efficiency as well as continuity of government should a breakdown occur.

Blankenship said a single large non-modulating system would likely limit or not qualify for current energy rebates nor would it provide redundancy in the event of a breakdown.

If the current boiler system has a catastrophic failure, Blankenship said construction conditioning trailers would be brought in to condition the courthouse. This would be far better than undertaking a residential R & R (Remove & Replace) approach of the existing system.

Walter is working on an energy audit to determine the best equipment design. He does not want money to be wasted not knowing if the boiler system may be obsolete months down the road. Walter said the system must be compatible with the restoration and the replacement of the existing boiler would not be.

Courtroom

Another priority is the third-floor courtroom. This is where the ceiling tiles fell in last May due to leaks from the dome. Walter had been considering what will be required on a modest scale to get the courtroom back in a position to conduct business, which would be limited to clean up and stabilization.

After looking further into the costs for the third-floor repairs, Blankenship found they were prohibitive. With the approval of Judge Jonathan Wright, the county will continue using the Orr Building across the street for courtroom space.

With the need for additional courtroom space, the county had already been leasing the Orr Building across the street from the courthouse for several months. The contract is up in June. Blankenship talked to State’s Attorney Brad Hauge, Judge Jonathan Wright, and Bill Walter about keeping the Orr Building lease as work continues.

On Tuesday, May 19, the board unanimously approved renewing the Orr building lease for six months.

During renovation, Blankenship said there may be additional indirect expenses unrelated to construction due to leasing, storage and rental, etc...

Blankenship recently forwarded a letter to Walter advising him that the Courthouse referendum passed on March 17, 2020. It also authorized him to proceed with compiling bid specifications and documents.

In a recent phone conversation with Chairman Emily Davenport and David Blankenship, Walter indicated he already has numerous specifications completed.

Blankenship and Walter will soon be meeting with contractors to discuss project goals.

Walter requested that Blankenship appoint a Technical Restoration Committee of skilled technical individuals. This group would be “think tank” committee working with Blankenship and Walter and be charged with the purpose of developing technical recommendations. These recommendations would be submitted to the Buildings and Grounds Committee. If approved, they would be submitted to the entire board for a binding decision.

In addition to the tech committee, Walter has requested the full board appoint a Restoration Transition Committee comprised of both public officials and county employees. Their purpose would be critical to coordinate and execute all in-house efforts required to keep the county government functioning during the restoration process. These efforts may include equipment and staff relocations, storage, IT needs during construction and scheduling coordination with all pertinent parties. This committee would make recommendations and coordinate their efforts with Walter, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the County Board.

The dedicated committee approach requested by Walter will form a working team with each functioning within their respective disciplines.

Blankenship said this type of structure is required on a project of this magnitude as it forms a proper chain of command as well as keeping the public informed. It also provides a medium of input for public officials.

At the Regular Board meeting in May, the board approved the formation of both the Technical Restoration Committee and the Restoration Transition Committee.

In the later stages of restoration, Walter said a décor committee made up of both the public and private sector should be formed This committee would be limited to giving aesthetic recommendations to the board regarding topics such as colors and flooring.

To keep on schedule with the bond company, board member Chuck Ruben reminded Blankenship at the special meeting that David Pistorius needed physical documentation. At a subsequent meeting, Blankenship confirmed that those documents had been submitted.

[Angela Reiners]