HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County commissioners got an update on the state of the courthouse after the earthquake over the weekend. The August earthquake caused several cracks in plaster and did damage around the roof area. During Tuesday’s meeting, Maintenance Director Harlen Depew gave the board an assessment of the damage after Sunday's temblor.
“There is some new mortar damage up on the dome in the same areas where we had it back in August,” Depew said. “Our restoration guys are here to take a look at that and hopefully get that addressed pronto.”
Depew says there are a few more cracks in the plaster walls, but for the most part, the walls were spared significant damage.
“The plaster cracking that was throughout the building, though extensive, doesn’t appear to be a lot worse as a result of this one,” Depew said. “There’s probably a few that may have opened up a bit further or lengthened a bit, but again, we’re not anything of the scope of the August earthquake.”
The most significant damage occurred to the courthouse elevator when the counterweights were thrown off their tracks. Depew says the problem has already been fixed. He said that it will still be a week or two before they have a full assessment of the damage and more from the insurance company.