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Augusta County board directs further study of Lady Justice statue after expert cautions on moving it
Summary
After review of an expert letter saying the Lady Justice statue is fragile and not designed to be viewed near ground level, supervisors directed staff to gather more feasibility and cost information from Moseley (consultant) and to bring options, including a potential replacement statue, to a work session before spending more taxpayer money.
Augusta County supervisors directed staff to gather additional information about the feasibility and cost of relocating the Lady Justice statue from the historic courthouse after an expert letter urged caution.
A letter from Doug Sheridan, who previously worked on repairs to the statue, said the sculpture’s internal support and copper skin make it difficult to move without damage and that the base and structural components are not designed for close-up display. Sheridan suggested procuring a new statue as a lower-cost option if the county wants a visible sculpture at the new courthouse.
Board members expressed concern about authorizing $63,000 for design and cost estimating work before confirming it is feasible to remove and reinstall the statue without damage. Staff said Moseley (the consultant) is under contract to perform design work and noted the $63,000 figure covers the initial design and cost-estimating phases; removing and reinstalling the statue would require further work and expense.
Supervisors asked staff to obtain a more detailed assessment from Moseley that addresses whether the statue can be removed without damage and what the likely restoration and reinstallation costs would be, as well as to gather cost options for commissioning a replacement statue. The board did not vote to terminate consultant work but instructed staff to hold further work until the options are presented at a work session. Several supervisors said they wanted to make decisions only after receiving professional feasibility guidance and cost comparisons.
