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$2 Million To Replace Windows And Air Conditioners At Courthouse

Last updated on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

(BEDFORD) - Members of the Lawrence County Commissioners heard a presentation by Michael Conly, of Architura and Dave Haun, of Design-Aire Engineering Inc. at Tuesday’s meeting.

Both men talked about the dire need to replace the 110 windows in the courthouse and to replace the numerous air conditioning units hanging out those windows.

The cost of the project, which includes replacing all the windows and installing a Variable Refrigerant Flow system is estimated to cost $2 million dollars.

The windows would be historically actuate and include thermo glazing.

The commissioners did request that an energy analyzes be done to see how much the taxpayers would save on energy bills, if the windows are replaced. When that report is completed the two men will make a presentation to the commissioners, county council and the public at a special meeting.

The county paid $3,500 Architura for the assessment of the historic structure's windows and air-conditioning system.

Commissioners Bill Spreen and David Flinn have addressed the issue with the county council about the tuck pointing issues at the courthouse. They recommended spending $90,680 of the funds garnered through the sale of Dunn hospital to hire Karr Tuckpointing to give the courthouse a face lift. The council approved that expenditure last month.

In other business:

* The commissioners tabled a request from the health department to increase fees. The commissioner agreed with some of the increases, but disagreed with others. The department will make revisions and provide those to the commissioners for approval.

* Lawrence County Chief Public Defender Lorinda Youngcourt presented a request for window tinting at the Public Defender Agency in Dunn Plaza. Youngcourt requested $2,450 for the project. The commissioners approved the request and she will now present it to the county council.

* Sheriff Sam Craig says he has received the third bid from removing asbestos from the Courthouse Annex. But, the other two bids have since expired. So Craig will call those companies and see if they will extend the bids. Craig will then go with the lowest bid and have the asbestos removed. Once that is done the building will be razed.

Craig also presented the commissioners with a 6-month report of the disbursements of the commissary fund.

Craig says there are currently 108 inmates in the jail with 19 of those being female and 15 Department of Correction inmates.

* Joe Dibert, of community corrections, requested the budget approval for a $3,500 grant for the Juvenile Problem Solving.

Commissioner Bill Spreen asked about offenders serving in the community corrections program using cell phones while doing road crew. Dibert says that cell phones are a violation of the rules and he would address the issue.

Spreen, who serves on the Lawrence County 4-H Fair Board asked about offenders who don't work while doing road crew. Community Corrections had workers at the fairground helping prepare for the fair.

"Some of those guys don't do much, while the women were working circles around them," Spreen says. "What do you do in situations like that, is there repercussions if they don't work."

Dibert says offenders who don't work are held accountable.

* The Lawrence County Prosecutor's office requested a transfer of funds to pay the salary of an employee and for an additional of $13,000 to buy a new car for the prosecutor's office. The money for the vehicle is coming from the infraction deferral fund. The current vehicle has 115,000 miles and is 11 years old.

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