County commission considering formal analysis on courthouse buildings

Commissioners moved a step closer to a formal analysis of the county's two courthouses Thursday, approving a motion to allow Commissioner Paul Koeper to enter contract negotiations with ASDG Engineering of O'Fallon, Ill.

Koeper, a civil engineer with Penzel Construction before taking office, said he wants to get a better idea of the price the firm would charge. He would like the firm to identify any problems with the courthouses that are difficult for county officials to see, how repairs could extend courthouses' lives and provide a longevity estimate for both buildings. He would also like the firm to estimate the courthouses' degree of earthquake resistance.

Koeper said a professional analysis will help commissioners develop a long-term plan for the aging courthouses. The Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau was built in 1854, and the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson was built in 1908. Both buildings face frequent repair and size and structural constraints that hamper business and accessibility.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved a motion allowing County Clerk Kara Clark Summers to solicit donated sick leave time from county employees to benefit another county employee who is recovering from surgery. Once donated sick leave is identified, commissioners will vote to approve its use. Commissioners said they would like to discuss restructuring the county's sick leave policies later in the year as the county employees' handbook is rewritten.
• Commissioners approved a motion to allow Circuit Clerk Patti Wibbenmeyer to purchase new shelving to replace file cabinets.
• Charlotte Craig was reappointed as the county health officer.
• Commissioner Jay Purcell said he would like to address county policy affecting county cell phone and vehicle use. He said it isn't uniform across departments and he'll look into the matter for the next couple of weeks. He said he would like to formally discuss the issue at a later meeting.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Address:

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100 Court St., Jackson MO

44 N. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau MO