Lee County maintenance staff report building repairs, backflow failure and roof concerns

Eric, maintenance staff, summarized this month’s Facilities and Maintenance Committee report on building repairs and ongoing projects, including a failed backflow test at the new courts, soundproofing and LED lighting work, and concerns about the Old Courthouse roof.

The maintenance report covered several immediate maintenance items and longer-term capital needs. "In their kitchen, right next to the dishwasher and sink, it's all black wall. It's been fruity, kind of crusty," Eric said about the Law Enforcement Center kitchen and said crews would clean the block, install FRP and stainless diversion to allow better cleaning. He also said 24 LED fixtures were installed in the cell blocks and that backflow testing at the new courts had failed because a check valve needs to be rebuilt.

Why it matters: the committee discussed items that affect courtroom operations, public safety infrastructure and upcoming capital budgeting. Members were told some repairs will require outside contractors and placement into next year’s budget for larger projects.

Details from the report included:

- New Fourth Floor courts: work is progressing and maintenance praised the crew and IT for coordinating moves and minimizing operational disruption. Soundproofing ceilings with insulation is about 75% complete; one room remaining is Judge Acker’s jury room. Backflow testing at the new courts failed and a backflow check valve will need rebuilding.

- Old Courthouse (OCH): Procom is scheduled to install card readers at the north entrance and three doors will be electrified using exterior-mounted hardware rather than replacing whole doors. Maintenance reported a roof leak was located and temporarily fixed, and staff said the roof has an estimated remaining life of roughly two years. The committee discussed tuckpointing work on limestone and mortar before any full roof replacement and noted dome glazing would also need attention if scaffolding is required.

- Water pressure and mechanicals: maintenance noted that after the meter the water pressure reads about 40 psi while the expected level discussed during the meeting was 80 psi; pipe size coming into the building was estimated at 3 to 4 inches. Staff said the internal valve appears original and will need replacement at some point.

- Equipment and contracts: crews will begin LED lamp replacements with Weaver Electric, and maintenance said they were still awaiting contact from Alta about a generator. For animal control, staff proposed replacing vinyl siding at the kennel with vertical steel siding to reduce damage from animals; that work is planned for the summer.

- Operations and work orders: the department will introduce iPads and the Limble work-request system for maintenance technicians to replace paper notebooks. Mowing season will begin and the department plans to concentrate mowing on Mondays.

Committee members thanked maintenance staff for handling moves and minimizing disruptions. "Stacy Stewart with probation had just the greatest things to say about maintenance, IT, the efficiency... being able to move an entire department," a committee member noted during the meeting.

Less urgent but noted for budgeting: maintenance said the roof replacement and tuckpointing at the Old Courthouse are capital items likely to be included in next year’s property budget and that staff will solicit quotes and prioritize tuckpointing and glazing if scaffolding is needed.

Ending: staff said they will continue coordinating with contractors and hope to report progress at the next committee meeting.