<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578330154796.jpeg" alt="County Commission.jpg" />
 <figcaption>County Commission.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Reno County Commissioners have approved a contract with an engineering firm to do a study for the windows at the courthouse.Approval was given to hire GLMV Engineers to do the study at a cost of $94,000. The matter was tabled by the board at their December 23rd meeting.The Commission was wrestling with the projected cost of renovating the windows at the courthouse. The original cost estimate was more than $1.5 million. Commissioner Ron Hirst questioned whether the cost was justifiable with what little savings in energy cost the renovation would provide. Putting in new modern windows would lower energy costs but doing so would require legal action or removing the building from the Historic Register altogether.County Maintenance Director Harlan Depew told the board that many like cities have removed their older buildings from the historic register and put newer windows in only to find them replacing them 20 years later. Depew said he was confident that renovating the current windows would add another 50 years to their life. The windows currently in place are 90 years old.The work will likely include replacing the glass and renovating the metal frames and additional work around the window openings. There is no word on when the study will be ready for the commission to look over.

County Commission approves engineering study