Architect outlines cupola, weather vane and dome repairs on historic Three Bears tower; contractor priced several add-ons

Jennifer Ahrens, a principal architect on the restoration project, gave the board a visual update on the tower restoration for the Three Bears building, showing photos of a compromised dome, rotted structural members, and a 14–16-foot weather vane that has been removed for replication.

Ahrens said the general contractor, Streeter Associates of Elmira (contractor name as provided to the board), and subcontractors including Spring Sheet Metal (roofing and flashing) and SafeSpan (scaffolding) are on the project. She described structural damage inside the belfry, rotted pegged supports around the post that holds the weather vane, and missing bricks on the southeast chimney that Ahrens recommended be repointed and rebuilt.

Work items and contractor pricing presented to the board included: a proposed credit/allowance approach for repairing the weather vane attachment (the original vane was salvaged and is in a sheet-metal shop for replication); an added price of $6,060 covering three tower items; a chimney rebuild priced such that the total including tower items would be $8,068, and $8,738 if chimney and gutter work were both accepted. Streeter also quoted $23,300 for a curved louver replacement and $1,700 to rehang a gutter/downspout; the contractor offered a $1,030 deduct if both chimney and gutter scopes were accepted together.

Ahrens described options for the frieze (she spelled as "freeze" in photos) and noted the team is evaluating using an ASEC/ASAC (manufactured exterior sheathing) curved panel to form the curved frieze for lower maintenance rather than many smaller boards that require regular painting. She said the dome will be resheathed and reclad in copper and that site scaffolding has been an expensive but necessary one-time cost.

On structural repairs, Ahrens described a proposal to install a steel plate to span and "sister" the compromised main beam where pegged supports and water infiltration have rotted the wood. She said the weather vane will be rebuilt "in kind" and that the original will be preserved as an artifact on the ground for public viewing if feasible. She emphasized the need for a solid welded tube/plate attachment for the replacement vane to resist high winds.

Board members asked about contingency and timing. Ahrens said the project estimated a contingency early in bidding (20% initially, tapering toward 10% toward completion) because the tower is high, inaccessible and had deferred maintenance; the team had missed some items in the bid documents (the frieze) and therefore sought additional pricing. She and director of facilities Bob Stuck planned a site meeting and a visit to the sheet-metal shop before progressing with fabrication.

Ending: No formal county vote was taken on the additional scope during the presentation; the architect and facilities director said they would meet Streeter on-site and return to committee with any negotiated pricing or recommendations before the board authorized additional work.