Facilities staff reported pigeons have taken up residence on the outside of the courthouse, leaving droppings on stone ledges and creating odors that are being drawn into the building through vents. Staff said the bird droppings are corrosive to exterior stone and could cause structural damage over time if not addressed.

"They're not inside, but they have taken up permanent residence on the outside of the building," the facilities staff member said, adding that droppings accumulate on ledges and in vent cavities and that broken eggs were observed.

Staff said a contractor (Nick Anderson) inspected the building and provided an initial quote of approximately $36,000 to install deterrent tracks around vents and ledges; staff proposed first steps of sealing or covering individual missing vent screens and then testing whether localized fixes reduce the problem before committing to a larger installation. Commissioners asked staff to prioritize covering vent openings on the north/front side and to obtain quotes for covering vents around the entire building if localized fixes do not work.

Staff noted that some vent covers appear to be missing or rotted and offered to coordinate with the county ladder truck or an outside contractor to install covers; the contractor indicated he might install some vent screens free of charge if staff can provide access. No formal appropriation or contract was approved at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to pursue targeted vent repairs and get bids for larger deterrent installations.

The issue was raised as a courthouse maintenance and public-health/asset-preservation concern rather than a policy matter.