Published: November 03, 2009 10:28 pm      

Commission ponders new windows for courthouse

Needed at the Raleigh County Courthouse: 111 new windows.

Before any cash is laid out for them, however, care must be exercised that any new windows don’t conflict with the historical nature of the massive stone structure, commissioners agreed Tuesday.

Commission president John Humphrey made that point clear after the commission looked at some early proposals — not actual bids — that indicated the windows alone would run between $170,000 and $350,000.

“We’re going to work with the Raleigh County Historical Landmarks Commission,” he said.

Early on, the landmarks commission expressed some concern that new windows might compromise the historical flavor of the building, pointing out the courthouse is on the national registry of historical buildings.

Yet, as Commissioner John Aliff surmised, “There is no way in the world we’ll ever get the same windows.”

Humphrey said the idea is to find a type of window that will blend in with the stone and yet be functional. The idea is to prevent air leaks that have caused losses in both heating and air conditioning.

“It’s not necessarily to have the windows look the same as much as it is to have some historical look to it,” he said.

Adding labor costs, with prevailing wage, would mean another $92,000, he said.

Aliff indicated the county might be able to handle the task in-house, saving the costs of labor.

The courthouse has windows in all three stories and a basement.

Two months ago, the commission agreed to apply for a grant of $100,000 from the State Courthouse Facilities Improvement Fund, with the county putting up some $20,000 in matching funds.

In other matters, the commission:

Accepted a $16,903 bid by Hughes Supply of Beckley to install light bars on the cruisers of the sheriff’s department.

Approved a homeland security grant drawdown of $877.90.

Approved an agreement to extend an anti-DUI program with an annual grant of $10,000.

Accepted an Economic Development Administration drawdown of $85,175 for Raleigh County Memorial Airport.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com