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Columbia County staff weigh historic-preservation grant to repair courthouse windows and woodwork
Summary
County staff told the board a newly opened historic-preservation grant could fund exterior and interior courthouse repairs, but work must comply with Washington State rehab standards and be completed by 06/30/2027; staff recommended test-repairing one window first to estimate costs and match requirements.
Chair opened the work session and shifted the meeting to parks and courthouse facilities, where staff outlined a plan to pursue a historic-preservation grant to repair windows, stucco and other exterior woodwork at the county courthouse.
A staff member said the grant opened the same day and can fund projects of varying size — "they've given on grants as high as 2,000,000," the staff member said — but added the funding normally requires a local match. "It would be a 50% match," the staff member said, while noting that higher local matches can strengthen an application and that some repairs already done may be counted toward the match.
Staff described the most urgent physical problems as a single high window with dry-rotted seals and interior moisture damage in areas such as the sheriff's lobby and jury room. The staff member said Jim's Glass provided bids to replace panes (individual-window costs were discussed in the range of about $1,000 to $1,500) and recommended testing one window repair first so the county can refine its cost estimate and processes before undertaking broader work.
The staff member told the board that any work funded under the grant would have to meet historic-rehabilitation standards and be completed by 06/30/2027. "All work would need to be completed by 06/30/2027," the staff member said, adding that wooden windows cannot be replaced with vinyl and that replacements should preserve the building's historic character.
Staff also advised that other work — exterior wood preservation, masonry repairs and ADA accommodations — would be eligible for the grant and noted a prior interior repair bid in the order of $5,500 for drywall and related work in the sheriff's lobby. To plan the application, staff recommended gathering itemized contractor estimates and a statement of support from an elected official to accompany the submission.
The board and staff discussed access needs for exterior repairs. Staff estimated lift rental at about $900 to $1,000 per week and said contractors can propose methods to reduce turf damage from heavy equipment. The staff member urged compiling a prioritized list of required repairs and attaching cost estimates for the grant packet.
The county did not make a formal decision at the meeting; staff said they will collect bids and prepare materials for the grant application. The board later moved into an executive session at the end of the work session.
