Clark County Courthouse’s Days Are Numbered As Commissioners Seek Demolition Bids

Clark County Courthouse’s Days Are Numbered As Commissioners Seek Demolition Bids

By Mike Scott

The Clark County Commissioners are moving a step closer the demolition of the county’s 139 year old courthouse. A pre-bid meeting for companies interested in the demolition contract will be held on September 21, with demolition bids becoming opened and awarded at the Commissioner’s September 28 meeting.
Boyd Wood is working with a county employee to remove items of historic or preservation value, such as door frames or stairway spindles.
“Boyd is taking them down very carefully to preserve them,” said Allen.
“We’re probably looking a demolition sometime in October,” said Commisstioner Jerry Neyens. “We’re optimistic that we’ll be seeking bids for the new building in December. The final plans have all been approved.
The Commissioners have also been working with state and federal authorities following President Obama’s disaster declaration. The Commissioners met with representatives from the State Emergency Management Agency last week, and will FEMA will have a kickoff meeting this week. A FEMA representative will be assigned to work with the county to assess the damage from flooding earlier this summer.
Early estimates for damage to county roads, culverts and other county-owned property place the costs at approximately $565,000.
In other business, the commissioners awarded bid to replace a bridge on Road 177 southeast of Waterloo, known as the Ira Hall bridge. Houf Construction was the lowest of three bidders for the project. Their bid was $413,847.60. Bleigh Construction submitted a bid of $431,681.17, and Chester Bross Construction’s bid was $484,196.60
“Have our foot in the door for grants for seven more bridges over the next three years,” added Allen.