By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In just under a year, a $4.84 million project to replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the Barton County Courthouse in Great Bend is complete. Having to vacate the courthouse during the project and lease buildings to house employees, County Administrator Matt Patzner said the transition back into the courthouse is approximately 90% complete.
After holding their meetings at the former JC Penney building on Kansas Avenue since last summer, the Barton County Commission returned to the courthouse for Tuesday’s meeting. Commission Chair Barb Esfeld was excited to be back in the 106-year-old building.
"Just the way things happen where budget-wise where we run into plumbing issues that are solved, but then we were able to save money other places," said Esfeld. "It couldn't have worked out any better. I'm glad to be back and want to thank everybody, all the staff and there's so many people that I couldn't even begin to start thanking."
The county paid $15,000 monthly to rent the former JC Penney building at 1500 Kansas Avenue during the transition and $5,000 per month for space at 1709 Main Street, formerly the Sears store. All departments are moved back the courthouse following a move that began last week with the help of the Tulsa-based Armstrong Moving Company that cost nearly $50,000.
Patzner said the county is putting the final touches on the move and working to get the elevator open to the public.
"The elevator itself does work," said Patzner. "As a condition of our occupancy agreement, it needs to be hooked up to the fire alarm system and relayed to the first floor. We're waiting on getting that part. We're working to see if we can get a technician onsite if that can suffice in the meantime so the public can use the elevator."
A grand reopening of the courthouse will be held May 31 at 1:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting and tours offered from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
