Logan County Board
Building and Grounds Committee hears August updates on restoration projects from Bill Walter

 

[August 08, 2024] 

On the evening of Tuesday, August 6th, the Building and Grounds Committee of the Logan County Board met in the Blue Room at the Logan County Safety Complex. The meeting, while short, was very productive in its updates regarding the Latham Park pavilion, the Courthouse restoration, and a proposed addition to Scully Park.

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Hannah Fitzpatrick, as Chairman Jim Wessbecher was unable to be in attendance. The minutes from the board’s previous meeting (that having been held on July 2nd) were approved before the board moved on to the Latham Park pavilion update.

Bill Walter, owner of Masonry Restoration Technologies & Services (MRTS), was in attendance via phone call to give the update on Latham’s pavilion restoration. Walter informed the board that they were checking into the availability of replacement historic tiles to match the ones that are currently on the pavilion roof. Between 12 and 18 tiles need to be replaced, and a roofer is currently looking into getting them second-hand, being confident they found someone who should have matching tiles. A replacement door for the pavilion has also been manufactured. It has yet to be installed, but Walter assured the board that should be happening soon. While he was not 100% sure on the timeline, Walter shared that he was hopeful the restoration would be complete somewhere between the first and second week of September.

In addition to an update on the restoration of Latham’s pavilion, it was also shared that Wessbecher has been working on getting the 144th Army Band from Peoria to play at the pavilion once it is complete. This group, comprised of over thirty musicians, would be the first group to play at the newly restored pavilion. Wessbecher is also trying to get someone to cater a meal for the band but has not settled on anyone just yet. This event is scheduled for September 8th.

Walter then went on to give an update on the Courthouse restoration. The scaffolding and beams have been completely removed, and Walter was sure to thank everyone for their patience in that process. A carpenter is currently working on closing up the holes around the dome where the beans were protruding. They are also working on restoring the third floor, but that process has been slow going. Walter was hopeful that the third-floor restoration would also be complete sometime between the first and second week of September. Walter also asked the carpenter to clean up the vegetation where the scaffolding was, as it has become overgrown. Once the third-floor restoration is complete, they will begin restoring the second floor.

The meeting then moved on to a report by the facilities manager, Chris Wilson. Wilson shared that he are currently looking into adding a permanent port-a-potty to Scully Park. According to Wilson, many people have been sharing that when they go to Scully Park to play pickleball, they must leave to find a restroom if needed. Most of the time, the people who leave to find a restroom facility do not return. Wilson stated they have been looking at handicap accessible port-a-potties, and the cost is somewhere between $2,000 and $2,200.

Once Wilson finished his report, the board opened the floor for public comments, to which there were none. The meeting was then adjourned.

[Matt Boutcher]