The Buena Vista County Courthouse is getting a facelift — and Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Joe Keller says the work is moving along as planned.
Keller gave the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors an update Tuesday on several county building projects, including the courthouse restoration, planned demolition of the former Cherry Corner Insurance Agency building and a security upgrade involving the courthouse elevator.
McGill Restoration began work on the courthouse exterior last week. Keller said two workers are handling the restoration, which involves removing old mortar and caulk, replacing joints and eventually washing the building.
Keller said the crew has been able to make steady progress without significantly disrupting courthouse operations.
He said one detail still being worked out is the color of the new mortar. A sample appeared too gray because of the wet weather, so Keller planned to bring another sample inside to dry before deciding whether the color matches the existing building.
Keller also said he is closely reviewing the cleaning product the contractor plans to use, based on concerns about mold returning after previous restoration work.
Keller said the restoration is expected to continue until about Thanksgiving. McGill Restoration is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and specializes in concrete and masonry restoration, including historic preservation and exterior cleaning.
Keller also updated supervisors on plans to demolish the former Cherry Corner Insurance Agency building at 315 East Fifth Street in Storm Lake.
Buena Vista County purchased the 520-square-foot building for $47,000 this summer, completing the county’s acquisition of the remaining privately-owned property on that block of East Fifth Street.
Keller said he is waiting on paperwork from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources related to asbestos compliance before setting a firm demolition schedule. The utility work is complete, but he said the demolition has taken longer than expected as the county works through the required paperwork and coordinates disposal with the landfill.
Once the building is down, Keller said the county may wait until next year to complete some of the concrete work rather than try to pour it late in the season.
Keller also said he recently met with Otis representatives for a pre-construction meeting on the courthouse elevator security project approved earlier this year.
The work will add a secure second-floor elevator entrance for inmate transport, along with related equipment. Keller said the project is largely ready to move forward, with some smaller preparations still needed, including relocating a light switch and installing a card reader.
