Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Courthouse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Butler County seeks emergency procurement after Feb. 22 courthouse fire; preliminary repair estimate $1.4M
Summary
County administrators asked commissioners to declare a "real and present danger" at the Butler County Historic Courthouse to fast‑track repairs under Ohio procurement law; preliminary estimates from contractors total about $1.4 million and probate court operations have been temporarily relocated.
The Butler County administrator asked the Board of Commissioners on March 3 to declare a "real and present danger" at the Butler County Historic Courthouse so the county can use emergency procurement procedures to speed restoration after a Feb. 22 fire.
The administrator told the commissioners that CORSA and the City of Hamilton's fire investigator have cleared the site to begin restoration work, though a formal cause report had not yet been received. "We have received over a dozen preliminary estimates from the contractors at this point totaling a restoration estimate about $1,400,000," the administrator said, adding that the county was still awaiting additional quotes.
Why it matters: staff said the courthouse houses multiple county functions — including probate, the sheriff's offices and other public‑facing operations — and that repairs are needed to protect public safety and restore county services quickly. The administrator requested authority to use procurement flexibility in the Ohio Revised Code so the county may draft and execute necessary contracts and return to the Board for formal approvals.
The administrator said the county is coordinating with judges and court staff to continue operations while repairs proceed. "Area court is to be located to the Municipal Court" on a temporary basis and staff are working with judges to transition probate matters to the municipal court for the short term, the administrator said.
County finance staff told the Board they had already included a preliminary $250,000 requisition among two requisitions over $25,000 (totaling $299,349) to cover invoices on hand related to emergency repairs, and that a purchase order change order will be brought forward as final amounts are known.
The Board was asked to authorize the administrator to proceed with contract drafting and limited execution consistent with the county's legal advisors, citing procurement statute referenced in the meeting as 307.86F.
Next steps: staff said more contractor estimates were expected and that they will report back with updated quotes and formal contract approvals at a subsequent meeting. The administrator projected — with remaining quotes pending — that the county hopes to have repairs completed by the end of March, though that timing remains contingent on receiving the outstanding estimates and contractor scheduling.
