HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners approved on a 2-1 vote the decision to spend almost a million dollars to correct problems with the substrate on the courthouse dome, even if insurance doesn't cover the additional cost. Commission chair Daniel Friesen explained why he voted against the motion.
"I think we take some incentive off of resolving this when we approve it," Friesen said. "I think we also have no idea whether this bid is competitive. I think we're just taking the heat off by approving it."
Commissioner Ron Sellers moved to approve the change order because he wants to move forward with other work on the courthouse.
"The condition of the fifth floor is worse than bad," Sellers said. "That project needs to happen and it can't happen until this is done, with that being the reason, I'd make the motion that we approve the change order."
Commissioner Ron Hirst wants Harlan Depew with the county to really push Pishny Restoration Services on the timeline for this, which would be another four to six months.
"This should have been caught by either our engineer, their engineer, their architect, our architect," Hirst said. "It's something that's going to have to be done, regardless."
There is disagreement between the county's engineer and the engineer for the insurance company as to whether concrete can just be added on to what's there to get to the right thickness or if a new full thickness must be poured. A third independent engineer is coming to study the situation March 31 to determine whether and how much insurance would cover on the work. The cost of the change order is $928,440.80.
In the event that insurance denies the claim, funds from the CIP Reserve Fund will cover the change order. If the expense is paid by the county, it should qualify for a 40% reimbursement in the form of state income tax credits thru the Kansas State Historical Society.