The exterior of Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A contract regarding a multi-million dollar modification of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system within the nearly 150-year-old Bartholomew County Courthouse is expected to be awarded Dec. 18.
But since the project involves replacing pipes throughout the entire building, workers will have no choice but to break through several thick plaster walls to reach pipes connected to boilers and chillers, project consultant Tony Akles of Strand Associates, Inc. said.
A number of courthouse employees say evidence of leaking pipes causing deterioration to walls and ceilings can be found at several locations. The project also calls for replacing the air handling units, as well as replacing most interior and some exterior lights, Akles said.
While construction within the 46,928-square-foot courthouse is expected to get underway in either late February or early March, Akles says the modifications will take about 15 months to complete.
Two proposals submitted to the Bartholomew County commissioners were taken under consideration on Dec. 11. The base bids are:
- Dunlap and Co., Columbus – $3,375,000
- Harrell-Fish, Inc., Bloomington – $4,940,000
County administrator Tina Douglas said the commissioners intend to award the contract during their regular weekly meeting at 10 a.m. Monday. But she didn’t say whether Dunlap’s apparent low bid met the county’s expectations.
Harrell-Fish was hired last May to repair the HVAC systems at the Bartholomew County Jail.
Repairs to the aging courthouse have been ongoing for several years. A first-floor interior rennocation, as well as erosion and physical deterioration repairs, were addressed in 1997, but the cash-strapped county could only afford half of the needed fixes.
In 2018, consultants recommended spending up to $3.2 million in courthouse repairs. But a decision was made to spread the different projects out over several years. Individual projects have included repairing erosion of the limestone foundation and brickwork below vents on the lower part of the clock tower, as well as dissolving mortar joints.
In the summer of 2020, the commissioners had set aside money for renovations. However, there was extensive pressure to purchase body and vehicle cameras for sheriff’s deputies, so the courthouse repairs were delayed to pay for the cameras. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic required extensive work in the courtrooms that, among other things, allowed certain court hearings to be conducted via video conferencing.
Last July, the commissioners paid DLZ Indiana $10,000 to provide a life-cycle analysis on the courthouse. DLZ frequently advises the county on their engineering, architectural and construction needs.
Both the analysis and the HVAC work at the courthouse are eligible for federal funding through the American Rescue Plan for pandemic relief, Bartholomew County Council President Jorge Morales said.
