Cass courthouse problems viewed

WALKER - Cass County commissioners started their day Tuesday in the courthouse complex boiler room, walked through a sub-basement storage area and ended up in a courthouse mechanical control room.

Central Service Director Tim Richardson conducted the tour to show the commissioners some of the heating and cooling and general building deficiencies. He estimates it will cost about $747,500 to correct the deficiencies. Many would be energy-saving changes.

This does not include the cost to replace the 1976-vintage windows in the courthouse annex, which one commissioner described as being as efficient as if every other window were open.

On Richardson's list were re-roofing the original courthouse section where the rubber mat roofing is 20 years old and has been repaired three times this winter, replacing the 1992 heating and cooling control software program to better monitor and control it and enlarging the backup generator to serve not only the law enforcement center, but also cover all pumps, air handlers, wiring closets and elevators in the courthouse.

The county should split its water lines for the sprinkler system and outside watering from courthouse use, because the county pays a sewer and as well as water charge to the city for sprinkler system and outside water use, Richardson said.

All elevators need to be upgraded to current codes before Jan. 1, 2012. The oldest, in the original courthouse, still runs on a mechanical system. It should be replaced, removed or significantly upgraded, he said.

The heating boilers, now all using fuel oil, once were used to burn wood pellets. The system needs repairs and upgrades, especially for proper ventilation. Richardson recommended the board consider converting to an electric dual fuel system.

Walls in the courthouse annex and newer health, human and veterans services building should be insulated. The HHVS building should be recaulked and joints sealed on the exterior, he said.

The sub-basement storage area where old tax records and county attorney records are stored has no floor drains, so when water and sewer service pipes in the ceiling leak, there is no way to remove water. There need to be at least sump pumps, Richardson said.

Tuesday, the board referred the list to the board's capital improvement committee members, Commissioners Bob Kangas and Jeff Peterson, for their recommendations on how to proceed.

Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe said there is enough money in the capital improvement fund to pay for these projects, but that fund also has been set aside for anticipated sheriff's telecommunications improvements, highway garage improvements and other anticipated major construction.

Tuesday the board authorized spending up to $4,500 to put a new entrance over the Cass County Museum front door to divert snow and ice that slides off the metal roof away from the door.