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Board approves $2.56 million to stabilize McCormick Hall after staff finds structural rot and corrosion
Summary
The Board approved transfers totaling $2,559,894 (a $2.5 million ATR from the capital renewal reserve and $59,894 from the liability fund) to reroof and stabilize McCormick Hall after staff found corrosion in structural members and rot in a key north wall; staff flagged potential for higher costs and hazardous-materials unknowns.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors on April 14 approved appropriations transfers to fund Option A: an immediate re-roof and structural stabilization of McCormick Hall at the Solano County Fairgrounds. The board voted 4-0 to transfer $2,500,000 from the county’s capital renewal reserve fund and $59,894 from the county liability fund for the project.
What staff found: Capital Projects Management staff and the structural engineer reported corrosion at roof connection points and on some structural steel members caused by chronic rainwater intrusion, particularly on the building’s north (rear) wing that houses service areas. The team described rotten sheathing, compromised 2x framing, and corroded electrical conduit behind exterior panels. The structural engineer advised repairing the compromised north wall before adding new roof weight: “you got to fix this before you put any weight on the roof,” project staff said.
Options and cost uncertainty: Staff presented three approaches: Option A (stabilize and reroof, fastest delivery), a full modernization (staff estimated as high as $14 million), or removing and replacing the building (staff gave competing ballpark references ranging from an additional $4–5 million up to $15–20 million when factoring full systems replacement). Georgette Poirier, senior management analyst, told the board the county had approximately $13.8 million in capital renewal reserves prior to the request and that approving the $2.5 million transfer would reduce reserves to about $11.3 million.
ARPA timeline and contingency planning: Staff emphasized the need to use ARPA funds by December and recommended a course that preserves ARPA dollars while stabilizing the building quickly. The project team said they performed exploratory removal of panels on the back wall to better estimate scope and that the project includes contingency funding to address unknowns identified when the wall is opened. Staff committed to monitoring costs closely and to not returning to the board for more funds unless necessary.
Fairgrounds operations and public comment: Tom Kenny, CEO of the Solano County Fairgrounds, reported the building is actively used for community events and rental weekends and that roof sampling did not detect asbestos in the roof coating. Joe Joyce, president of the fairgrounds, urged approval and invited the board to the building’s reopening following repairs.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the ATRs by a 4-0 vote. Staff will proceed with Option A, include contingencies for hazardous materials and unknown infrastructure repairs, pursue outside funding (including potential PG&E assistance for ventilation issues), and return with updates on long-term systems replacement and planning.
