By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The major areas of concern are already taken care of on the courthouse’s dome and tower, so the focus has now switched to some of the smaller details.
Bruce Heinlen, of Felty-Heinlen Architects & Planners, Inc., met with Crawford County Commissioners Tuesday to discuss a change order that would allow the contractor to use $24,578 of the contract’s $170,000 allowance. The change order detailed replacing the concrete roof deck with treated plywood, a membrane, and copper.
“That’ll last you a lot longer than that concrete did,” Heinlen said.
He added that they are now working on repairing sections of the roof, including the replacement of broken and missing balusters with new pre-cast balusters. A stucco façade will also be added behind the balusters to resemble the original conditions and to eliminate roosting spots for birds.
Heinlen also suggested installing a high guard rail around the existing floor opening at the bell level stairs that lead down to the main tower level. He informed the commissioners that they will also be looking into lighting for the clock and the rotunda.
“Most everything up there is labor intensive,” explained Heinlen. “We’re past the point of the major concern areas.”
Despite the long hours of labor ahead, Heinlen added that they are still on track to be finished by the end of November.
“They’re making progress. They’re doing good work up there,” he said of General Restoration Corporation of Columbus.