By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In February, the Barton County Commission made official the move to go ahead with a $4.182 million renovation project at the Barton County Courthouse. All county staff was officially out of the building by mid-July, and now contractors are doing their work inside the building. Tuesday morning, the commission approved an additional $125,769.39 in change orders on the project. Commissioner Duane Reif said the changes are reasonable given the age of the courthouse.
"This is kind of what's expected with older buildings so it's really no surprise we're going to have expenses like this," he said. "Once again, when we get done with this, we want to do it correctly. We don't want just to do it part way and just kick the can down the road."
The commission had to approve asbestos abatement in the flooring at $55,202.14. The body was able to ratify several other changes that came in under the county's $50,000 threshold for a vote. A total of five change orders totaled $70,567.25 and included asbestos abatement in ceiling tiles, additional flooring on the steps, additional floor work in a courtroom, and electrical work. Commissioner Donna Zimmerman said the asbestos removal is an unfortunate necessity.
"From what I can see with ceiling tiles, they quit putting asbestos in those in 1989 and those were installed in '81, so we just barely missed," she said. "It's unfortunate. I wouldn't have guessed those had asbestos."
Most county officers are temporarily located in the old JC Penney building at 1500 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. Those offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 10.