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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Ind. Courts - Gibson County to re-bid Courthouse work
Andrea Howe of the Princeton Daily Clarion reports today:
County Commissioners rejected three bids for rehab work at the Gibson County Courthouse and will start from scratch, hoping for a lower price this time.Tuesday morning, Commissioner Bob Townsend said architect Tim Henning recommended rejecting the bids and re-bidding metal restoration work.
Commissioners budgeted $800,000 budgeted for courthouse restoration in their Economic Development Income Tax revenue spending plan, and have a $100,000 Rainy Day Fund pledge from the Gibson County Council to work on the building.
Late last year the board accepted a $284,000 bid for major masonry and waterproofing work, but bids for more restoration work ranged from $733,240 to $915,000.
The initial bid specifications called for replacing copper downspouts, flashing and other metal restoration at and above the cornice, including work on the clock.
Gibson Superior Court Judge Earl Penrod got permission to move ahead on interior remodeling in the old basement law library to convert the space into more court office space.
Shoultz Construction will do drywall, window and door work for $11,893.93. Penrod estimated electric work at $2,000, computer work at $5,500 and additional work for heating and air conditioning.
Last year he told commissioners he needed space so badly he's willing to pay for rent or remodeling out of court user fee revenue, but qualified the offer with the observation that he finds it odd that his is the first county office to pay for its own space.
“If you don't have the money I'll find the money,” he said. “I didn't want to make that offer because I knew you would stop looking,” he smiled.
“If he wants to pay for it, he can, but if he doesn't, we'll find a way,” said Commissioner Don Whitehead.
“It looks like the commissioners' project is apparently now becoming my project,” Penrod mused.
“We're always happy to delegate responsibility and we believe we've delegated it to a good man,” smiled commissioner Sherrell Marginet.
On a less costly note, Penrod reported the courthouse attorney's conference room is getting new furniture, courtesy of an Evansville attorney.
Bob Zoss practices in Evansville, but is a member of the Gibson County Bar Association. Judge Penrod said Zoss offered to buy new furniture and have it delivered if the county would consent to removing the furniture in the room.
Penrod said another local attorney purchased a mirror to place over the fireplace in new Gibson Circuit Judge Jeff Meade's office.
Commissioners accepted the donations.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 17, 2007 05:01 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts