Out My Window

The heritage of the county courthouse has always been a favorite subject of mine. These elaborate, majestic buildings that have stood for a hundred years. A cornerstone of the evolution of of community and government. It is sad that we have lost so many during the fifties when a massive undertaking to rejuvenate and modernize these buildings. It is specially disheartening when we find that one of these building is dying not only because of age but from poor engineering during restoration.

At the Lee County Commissioners' Court meeting on Monday, August 24, 2009, the Commissioners heard an assessment of what repairs are needed to the County Courthouse Building, which has shown significant cracking and settling over the past couple of years. Numerous cracks have appeared in the floors and walls of the recently renovated building.

The damage to the building is an ongoing problem that is being aggravated by the extreme drought; however, some of the things that were done during the renovation also are contributing to the damage. Among some of these issues is the inadequate ground drainage around the outside of the building. Water does not adequately drain away from the building, and the roof drainage system, installed during the renovation, is clogged and incomplete. A significant part of the foundation footing was removed during the renovation in order to lower the basement floor and this has also contributed to the damage to the historic structure. The net result is that the changing moisture content of the underlying clay soil is moving up and down as the moisture level changes, causing the outside walls, with the weakened footings, to move and tilt away from the core of the building.

These problems could easily cost $600,000 to more than $750,000 for the drainage and foundation work alone. Structural and interior repair work could cost at least as much as the drainage repair.

Of course we all know that these estimates are jacked up so the construction and engineering firms can make lots and lots of money but it is like hospital bills and we have no choice but pay it if we want to save our loved ones.

Get well soon, Lee County!