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Nelson County judge-executive outlines $1.8 million courthouse repairs, HVAC plan
Summary
Nelson County Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins told listeners the county faces major courthouse repairs — leaks, plaster and failing HVAC — and that bids to replace the system came in near $1.979 million. He is negotiating options and will present a funding plan to magistrates.
Nelson County Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins said the county’s 19th-century courthouse needs urgent work, including roof repairs, mold/plaster remediation and a full heating and air replacement that the county has estimated would cost about $1.8 million.
“One of my biggest goals is get this courthouse in good shape,” Hutchins said on the county radio program, noting repeated leaks and longstanding structural problems. He said initial bids to replace the HVAC and associated ductwork arrived “came in at $1,979,000,” and that the fiscal court has tabled the item while he negotiates with the sole bidder and prepares to present options to magistrates.
Hutchins said the county considered doing the work in phases but that piecemeal repairs would likely cost more over time. He described the scope as more than equipment replacement, noting substantial electrical upgrades and removal of outdated duct systems.
The judge-executive said earlier repairs upstairs have been completed with a combination of insurance, county employees and inmate crews, which reduced costs. He did not detail a final financing plan but said the county is exploring internal transfers between funds before resorting to bonding.
The timeline Hutchins outlined: ongoing architect planning and negotiations with the bidder; a presentation to magistrates before any public contract award; and phased work on window repairs and remaining leak mitigation in the next one to two months.
Why it matters: the courthouse houses essential public functions and failing systems have produced recurring leaks and safety concerns, Hutchins said. He framed the work as preventative fiscal stewardship — avoiding larger costs by addressing the building’s structural problems now — and emphasized the county’s aim to avoid raising taxes if possible.
Hutchins gave approximate figures rather than firm contract awards. The county’s next procedural step is to provide magistrates with detailed costs and a recommended funding plan; no formal vote was announced on the program during the broadcast.
