Lewis County Executive Summary

 

 

Front of Courthouse

 

            The Lewis County courthouse was built in 1887, and it is on the historic register.  The exterior walls are made of brick and stone that have been painted.  There are spots of missing mortar and a few minor cracks, and the paint is beginning to peel.  We recommend repairing the cracks and the missing mortar, and scrapping and repainting the brick and trim.

 

            The roof is a mix of roofing materials, such as rubber membrane, shingles, metal shingles on the domes, and metal sheeting on some of the slopes.  All of these are in good condition except for the metal shingles on the domes that appear to be rusting.  We recommend the rusting metal domes be cleaned and repainted.

 

            The 1st and 2nd floor windows are inoperable and inefficient.  We recommend replacing these windows with period appropriate aluminum clad windows.  The doors are all in good condition.

 

            To improve security in this building, we recommend establish a security screening checkpoint with an x- ray machine, and move metal detector to main entrance.  The county should install a security system, including:   a card access system, a security console, security cameras, a security system with magnetic contacts on the doors and windows, heat, motion and glass breakage detection.  There should also be duress alarms installed under the front counter in the circuit clerk’s office, secretary’s desk, clerk’s desk, judge’s bench and clerk’s desk in the courtroom, judge’s desk, family court judges desk, election room desk, county assessor’s desk, tax office front public counter and back office desks, and any others as needed.  We also recommend installing key controlled light switches in the courtroom and hallways, and alarmed exit doors.

 

            This building has no fire alarm system, sprinkler system or emergency lighting.  We recommend installing a fire alarm system with detectors, horns and strobes, a sprinkler system, and emergency lighting.

 

            To bring this building up to ADA compatibility requirements, we recommend providing an audible signal to designate floor changes in the elevator, and upgrading the woman’s accessible bathroom.  We also recommend building a lower a portion of the counter in the County Clerk II Office, records room, circuit clerk’s office, jail entry.  In addition, there should be a lift for the judge’s bench and witness stand.  The county should upgrade the jury room accessible bathrooms, and restructure the sheriff’s office entrance ramp.  In addition, there should be a ramp meeting ADA requirements at the jail entrance and all doorknobs should be replaced with lever handles.

 

            The electrical system is in old and has been noted as a problem by the fire marshal.  We recommend upgrading the electrical systems.  The building is heated and cooled with household systems rather than an efficient central unit, and the ventilation through the building is not adequate.  We recommend upgrading the HVAC system to provide adequate ventilation, heating and cooling throughout the building

 

The county is in need of more office and storage space.  We recommend providing the county with a 20,000 square foot annex for office and storage space.  We also recommend providing a 5,000 square foot storage building for records.

 

Total cost of this project: $4,537,080

 

 

Lewis Index Page