County renovation project closer to start

Van Wert independent

A Van Wert County project took another step forward Tuesday through action taken by the County Board of Commissioners.

The County Commissioners meet with architect Bruce Miller of Garmann Miller Associates to iron out further details of the project, which would include refurbishing the County Common Pleas Courtroom, including restoring the stained-glass dome in the ceiling of the courtroom; doing energy conservation projects in the County Sheriff’s Department offices, the County Annex building and the third floor of the Courthouse.

Energy savings and a $350,000 special projects fund accumulated through various court fees by Common Pleas Court Judge Charles D. Steele would be used to fund the project, which is estimated to cost $525,000.

Originally, just the courtroom renovation project was planned, but the cost of that project alone, which includes $157,500 just to restore the stained-glass dome over the courtroom, was thought more than could be raised through Judge Steele’s special projects fund. That fund also provides money for other Common Pleas Court programs, including the magistrate’s program.

Work to be done, other than the courtroom renovation, includes installing three heating-cooling air handling units, duct work and diffusers, and HVAC work on the third floor. Light fixtures would also be replaced in the courtroom, on the Courthouse’s third floor, and in the Sheriff’s Department and County Annex.

In the courtroom, in addition to restoring the stained-glass ceiling, work would include installing drywall and painting the light well, installing an access door to the area, repairing plaster and areas of the tin ceiling, painting courtroom walls, and installing acoustical panels, plywood flooring and HVAC flooring in and above the ceiling area.

There is also a possibility that the project could be expanded to include water and sewer systems in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility and possibly replacing some windows for greater energy efficiency.

Still being looked at is which piece of state energy-saving project legislation the county will choose for its project. There are several that could apply, but officials have not yet decided which would provide the greatest savings for the county.