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County hires Bartlett West to scope courthouse restoration, votes to put work out for bids
Summary
After a condition assessment presented by Bartlett West, the Steele County Commission voted to have the full courthouse restoration and a set of alternates put out for competitive bids and to pursue phased work and available funding, citing masonry, accessibility and drainage concerns.
Bartlett West architect Joe Larrabee presented a condition assessment of the Steele County Courthouse and the commission voted to put restoration work and alternatives out for bid.
Larrabee told commissioners the building's envelope and site require attention: exterior masonry and mortar are deteriorating, the front steps and ramp do not meet current building codes, and planter beds behind the sidewalk are creating localized drainage problems. He described the building as "a magnificent structure" and said addressing stonework and accessibility would improve both preservation and curb appeal. "It is an absolute treasure," Larrabee said.
The consultant outlined corrective actions: replacing or repairing exterior stairs and ramp, regrading and improving drainage behind planter beds, selective masonry restoration, window re-caulking and limited reglazing where needed, and allowing for contingency because of unknown conditions in an historic structure. He recommended phasing options and said contractors' input on sequencing would help refine costs.
Commissioners discussed funding and schedule. Staff noted previous allocations and available reserve and ARPA funds; Larrabee said the project estimate included a sizeable contingency because stone restoration can be volatile depending on contractor approach. Commissioners agreed that preparing full bid documents with alternatives would let them determine what can feasibly be done now and what could be phased.
The commission approved a motion to have Bartlett West prepare bid documents and advertise the project with alternates to allow staged work. Motion by Brandon, seconded by Chris; the motion carried by voice vote.
Next steps include Bartlett West's preparing bid packages and alternates for contractor pricing, and commissioners said they would review bids before committing county funds or using reserves. Larrabee offered to share Matterport scans and existing drawings with the county to support bidding and future work.
