Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993 TAG: 9311050188
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
After hearing an architect's estimate and description of the building's deteriorating condition, the Board of Supervisors agreed to put the project out to bid, possibly as early as next month.
The estimate represents one-half of Montgomery's $187,000 contingency fund.
Problems with the courthouse building in Christiansburg - which also houses county offices - became a public issue two months ago when a brick fell from an upper story on the Main Street side. Officials closed the sidewalk below and asked an architectural firm to examine the building and propose solutions.
"It's a powerful black eye on the courthouse to have to block off the street because you're afraid a brick's going to fall on someone," said Supervisor Joe Stewart of Elliston.
Bob Oliver of Mills, Oliver & Webb Inc. of Blacksburg said the brick problem is related to the faulty roof and to the way certain parts of the brick exterior were built.
He said the roof and insulation below it would have to be replaced with more durable contemporary roofing materials. Also, he said, the edges of the roof would be raised 3 inches to create a slope and better drain the roof, which is flat.
Flashing on the edge of the roof also would have to be replaced. Oliver estimated the cost to repair the upper roof and a smaller lower roof under a recessed equipment area at $50,500.
Seepage from the faulty roof is aggravating the masonry problem, he said.
After the roof is repaired, workers will have to examine bricks for cracks, replace defective areas and clean and coat all the brickwork with a water repellent. Oliver estimated that work at $43,700.
The crisis perturbed board member Joe Gorman of Blacksburg. He asked if there was some recourse against the original builder. But County Attorney Roy Thorpe said the statute of limitations had expired, and previous legal action against the contractor for problems with the courthouse had been settled.
The $2.9 million building, which replaced a courthouse built in 1909, has a long history of problems with its heating and cooling system, its formerly mechanical front doors and the elevators.
"This is terrible to have a less-than-20-year-old building falling apart," Gorman said.
Despite a plea from a Christiansburg lawyer whose office is close to the west entrance of the courthouse, the county will keep that entrance and the sidewalk closed as a precaution.
On another matter, the board postponed action on the controversial open-space plan after it became apparent it would go down to defeat without some changes.
The proposed amendment to the county's 1990 comprehensive plan attempts to provide zoning tools and techniques to encourage landowners to preserve some of the county's scenery.
The supervisors will discuss the issue again in a work session.
by CNB