Courthouse project to begin soon

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners learned Thursday that the renovation project planned for the third floor of Courthouse could begin in a couple of weeks.

Bruce Miller of Garmann Miller architectural firm based in Minster said work will begin on the project, which includes a new heating and air-conditioning system for the third floor and renovations to the Common Pleas courtroom — including restoration of the stained-glass dome that used to be part of the courtroom ceiling — should begin May 21.

A project to make the Van Wert County Correctional Facility and Sheriff’s Department buildings more energy-efficient is also part of the $1 million project, of which the county will pay just $65,000. That’s just over half of the original $125,000 estimated as the county’s share of the project.

Miller said he would also be working with Heyne Construction in Minster, which will be the general contractor on the project, to lower that company’s project estimate. Ayers Mechanical Group in Van Wert will be doing the HVAC work, while Buschur Electric is handling the electrical portion of the project.

Energy Optimizers of Tipp City will be handling the energy efficiency project, which will be funded under Ohio House Bill 300, which allows public entities to borrow money to pay for energy efficiency projects and pay the loans off with energy savings realized from the projects.

Of the $1 million cost of the project, $588,370 will funded through HB 300 loans, while $375,000 will come from Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele’s special projects fund and at least $10,000 will be realized in AEP energy savings rebates.

While the project is underway, which Miller said would take approximately four months, court hearings will be held in the Van Wert County Juvenile Courtroom. Because that courtroom does not have a jury box, though, jury trials will be conducted in Van Wert Municipal Court.