Commissioners approve design contract to replace north exterior stair at juvenile justice center

Richland County commissioners approved a design agreement on July 29 to replace the north exterior stair at the Juvenile Justice Center. Brad Mauer, the project architect, told the board the existing masonry stair and wall are pulling away from the building and the proposed work would demolish the existing stair, landings and foundations and install a fabricated steel stair with a blended sidewalk landing. "We estimated around 90 to a $120,000 for the total cost, thinking it'll be around 6 to 8 weeks or so for the construction process," Mauer said. The board discussed coordinating the stair work with a separate project to replace piping and security fixtures so that the wing is shut down once for construction. Commissioners voted to approve the design agreement and to fund the work from the reinvestment fund as presented. The project timeline and cost estimate are preliminary; Mauer said the team hopes to coordinate timing with the other contracted security and piping work to limit disruptions. No additional amendments or alternate funding sources were adopted at the meeting.