Ritchie County
Courthouse Detail Report
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Component |
Current Status |
Recommendations |
Cost |
|
General Exterior |
The main courthouse is a two-story stone building with a basement (P29, P28, P30, P31) It was built in 1923 and is approximately 9050 square feet. The courthouse is not listed on the historic register. |
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Exterior Walls |
The exterior walls are constructed of stone. They appear to be in good overall condition. The fascia and clock tower need to be painted. |
Paint the fascia and clock tower. |
$10,000 |
|
Roof |
The condition of the roof is in fair condition. It is a combination of metal shingled, pitched roof (over the original courthouse) and a flat rooftop over the additions. The entire roof is coated in sprayed-on foam. There is evidence of ponding, mold, damaged areas, and discoloration, (P1, P2, P3). |
Clean and repair the damaged sections of the roof. |
$6,800 |
|
Windows and Doors |
The windows are original to the courthouse. They are wooden-framed windows with single pane glass. They are in very poor condition. There is duct tape on some of the windows, sealing the frame to the sill, (P4). Some have cracked glass, and there is evidence of rotted wood, (P5, P6, P7). The doors are wood and in poor condition. They should be replaced with secure alarmed doors as noted in the security section. |
Replace all of the windows with period appropriate aluminum clad wood windows. |
$80,000 |
|
ADA Compliance |
The building is equipped with a temporary wooden handicap accessible ramp that has been in use for nearly 10 years. The handicap-equipped restrooms are located in the
Commissioner’s Office. It meets very
few of the Court sessions are sometimes held in the Commissioner’s Office to accommodate physically challenged individuals. There is no elevator at this facility. |
Install a permanent, accessible ramp. Renovate the accessible bathrooms to ADA requirements. Install an elevator to provide accessibility to all floors. Install a lift for the judge’s bench and witness stand. |
$65,000 $10,000 $120,000 $18,000 |
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Fire Safety |
The courthouse is outfitted with a fire alarm, smoke detectors, but not heat detectors. There are battery operated emergency lights present in the building, however there is no sprinkler system. No strobe lights were present. The stairs are not enclosed by fire rated walls and doors, (P11, P12). |
Install a sprinkler system with smoke and heat detectors. Install strobe lights in the halls and accessible bathrooms on the fire alarm system. |
$22,000 $2,000 |
|
Security |
There is a closed-circuit surveillance system, (P13). The judge’s benches are protected by bullet proofing materials and have been equipped with panic hardware. A metal detector is present outside the courtroom, but not at the entrances, (P14). There are no full-time security guards employed at the courthouse. |
Provide the building with a limit access system by installing: X-ray machine Card access system Alarmed exit doors Move the metal detector to front door
Add panic hardware to judges’ chambers, secretaries’ office, clerk’s office, magistrates’ offices, and others as necessary. |
$35,000 $9,000 $4,500 $2,000 |
Structure
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There are numerous cracks throughout the facility such as the Judge’s Consultation room, (P15); the wall in the receptionist’s area of the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, (P16), the Commissioner’s Office, (P17); and the Tax Office, (P18). Termite damage is was evident in the mechanical room, (P19). A crack is present in the floor that suggests settlement, (P20). The courtroom has many areas of water damage, (P21, P22, P23, P24). The woman’s restroom in the basement is in poor condition. |
Repair the cracked plaster. Treat the building for termites and repair damage. Repair the ceiling damage throughout the building. Upgrade the woman’s restroom in the basement. |
$1,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 |
|
Electrical |
The wiring in the building is old. Some of the panels are old and rusty, (P25, P26). The lighting in the building is inadequate in many areas.
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Replace the old wiring and install new panels as necessary, an estimate has been obtained. Upgrade the lighting in the building and install locked light switches in public areas |
$60,000 $15,000 |
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Mechanical |
The mechanical systems are a combination of gas furnaces, a boiler, roof top air conditioners and window units. The air conditioning system is not adequate for the building and the window units are loud. |
Install a central air conditioning system to increase efficiency, improve comfort and reduce noise levels. |
$90,000 |
|
Work Safety |
Asbestos tiles are present in the facility, (P27); however most of the tile has been covered with carpeting. |
Perform an asbestos study. |
$3,000 |
|
Space requirements |
There is a need for more office and storage space. This can be accomplished by new annex as proposed in the annex detail report. |
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Subtotal |
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$559,300 |
|
Soft Costs |
Professional fees, permits, surveys and studies |
20% |
$111,860 |
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Total |
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$671,160 |