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Commissioners approve courthouse roof repair contract, add winter work and greenlight mural removal
Summary
St. Joseph County commissioners approved a slate-tile roofing contract and a winter change order for Courthouse 1, authorized an architecture amendment for extra oversight and approved a contract to remove and store a deteriorating rotunda mural, all subject to county attorney review of venue and choice-of-law language.
St. Joseph County commissioners voted Dec. 2 to formalize a previously awarded contract to replace slate tile and repair the dome on Courthouse 1, approve an immediate winter change order to limit ongoing water intrusion, and authorize removal and storage of a deteriorating rotunda mural.
Bree Roberts, director of procurement, told the board the base bid for the slate-tile roofing and dome work was listed in the meeting packet as $1,747,812 and that the county is accepting a $30,000 deduct alternate the bidder offered. Roberts said substantial completion is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2025 and construction is expected to begin in March 2025. Roberts described a failure of the membrane under the tile roof and called the roof ‘‘well past its useful life.’’
Roberts asked the board to approve change order No. 1 so crews can begin interim work during winter months rather than waiting for the March start; the change order amount on the record was $92,260. She said the additional work will help ‘‘get our courthouse in the dry’’ while the main construction contract is pending.
The board also approved amendment No. 1 to the county’s architectural services agreement to add 12 site visits and additional administrative hours for construction oversight. The amendment fee was listed as $20,000; procurement recorded modified architect compensation under that agreement as $162,500.
Procurement separately recommended a contract with Conrad (Konrad) Schmidt Studios to erect scaffolding, remove one medallion mural that is actively peeling from a rotunda wall and store it in a protected tube. Roberts said the contractor will document any existing damage during removal and return the mural when interior restoration allows.
Several approvals were made ‘‘subject to county attorney review’’ because Roberts said requested revisions to venue and choice-of-law language remain outstanding.
Votes at a glance: the slate-tile AIA contract, change order No. 1, the architect amendment and the Conrad Schmidt Studios mural-removal contract were approved by voice vote; commissioners recorded ‘‘Aye’’ and the motions carried.
What this means: The county is moving into an active construction phase for a large historic project and has authorized immediate steps to stabilize interior finishes while the main contract work is scheduled for 2025. Legal review of contract language remained pending when the board voted.
