Cape Girardeau County Commission takes first steps toward courthouse structural review

Three engineering firms have provided the county information to help commissioners decide on whether to contract a structural review of Cape Girardeau County's two courthouses for the county commission.

The commission reviewed the firms' submitted qualifications at Monday's meeting.

Commissioner Paul Koeper said having an outside firm examine the two aging facilities would be a step toward long-term planning. The analysis, similar to one performed recently in Stoddard County, would identify not only immediate concerns with the buildings' structural integrity but would also suggest ways to prolong the life of the two courthouses, Koeper said.

Commissioners approved a motion that would allow Koeper, a civil engineer with Penzel Construction before taking office, to review the qualifications and cost before making a formal bid, if any, at Thursday's meeting.

The Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau was built in 1854 and the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson was built in 1908. Both facilities require constant repair and maintenance, county officials have said.

Commissioners approved a motion Monday that would allow the county to contract with Kenneth Foeste Masonry of Cape Girardeau for mortar work on the Common Pleas Courthouse. Typically, the county would advertise for bids on work such as this, but Koeper said the need was recently discovered and required immediate attention. The county has worked with Foeste on similar repairs at the courthouse.

Other action items:

• Commissioners agreed to pay half of the satellite Internet service for Public Administrator Phyllis Schwab's home office. Schwab will pay the other half, and extend the service to the rest of her home. The estimated total for the monthly bill is $61.30.
• The service contract for the copy machine in the prosecuting attorney's office has been renewed.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

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