Scott County courthouse renovations nearly complete

BENTON, Mo. -- Renovations at the Scott County courthouse and courthouse grounds are entering their final stages.

All that is left on the project is to finish a drainage system for the courthouse lawn, to sod areas of the lawn and finish the renovation of the war memorial in front of the courthouse, commissioner Jamie Burger said Wednesday.

The project cost a little more than $1 million and began in fall 2003, Burger said. Work on the courthouse began after the county's new jail, paid for by an eight-year half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2000, was completed in 2003.

Crews are working on correcting drainage problems that cause water to collect around the base of the courthouse. The water causes mold and mildew in the building and water collects on the basement floor, Burger said.

Piping will now divert water that drains from the roof of the building directly into Benton's sewers.

Stopping the water collection problem will help save important documents stored in the courthouse basement, he said.

Most of the work on the courthouse was done in 2004 and 2005, after the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 28, 2004, said Burger. That work included painting the interior of the courthouse, installing new lights, removing asbestos, replacing the electrical system, replacing the antiquated heating and cooling system and tuck-pointing the facade of the building. The masonry and terra cotta trim on the exterior were also cleaned, solid metal chimney caps were installed, lintels were recaulked and weeps were installed to prevent moisture from collecting in the walls.

The building was constructed in 1912 as the sixth courthouse in the county.

Most of the funding for the renovation came from capital improvements money, said Burger.

Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel said he's glad to see that the renovations will be complete before he leaves office at the end of the year. The money, said Priggel, was well-spent.

"That courthouse couldn't be built nowadays," Priggel said. "The money wouldn't be there. So I don't feel bad spending a million dollars on it."

Commissioners say that large investment will also help save money in the future by reducing energy costs.

Those who work in the courthouse seem to enjoy the changes that have been made there.

"It was long overdue," said county clerk Rita Milam. "The courthouse needed remodeling and the offices needed new wiring and lighting."

Milam said visitors remark on how much they enjoy the changes that have been made.

The final step in the courthouse remodeling will be the completion and dedication of the updated war memorial on Nov. 11. Burger said so far a little more than $4,000 has been raised from individuals, businesses and organizations to pay for the renovations to the memorial.

Renovating the memorial will cost about $10,000, but even if donations don't pay for the entire project, Burger said the county has no objection to paying the remainder out of the capital improvements fund.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182