Published: April 08, 2009 11:36 pm      

Estimates begin rolling in for upgrades to old courthouse

CATLETTSBURG — The new Boyd County Justice Center nearing completion is quickly becoming the new jewel of Catlettsburg.

But across the street, the old Boyd County Courthouse is slowly falling into despair.

The 77-year-old building has a laundry list of repairs needed to bring it up to date including asbestos removal, a roof, heating and cooling system, insulation, phone and other communication line upgrades, electrical upgrades, an emergency backup system and a new ADA-accessible elevator.

No complete estimate exists for all the upgrades but the roof and new heating/cooling system are expected to cost more than $1.8 million, according to an estimate compiled by Versailles-based architects Campbell and Associates, PLLC. New phone and communication lines are currently being installed at a cost of approximately $30,000, according to officials, and bids will soon be let on the needed electrical upgrades.

Nickie Smith, county community and economic development director, said she is working on a federal grant available for local governments to utilize green technologies for upgrades including the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system and a new energy-efficient roof.

Whether the county is successful or not at getting the grant, officials said they plan to move forward with many of the upgrades.

“They are way overdue. Everything is worn out,” said Judge-Executive William “Bud” Stevens.

Gordon Campbell, president and CEO of Campbell and Associates, said Tuesday a geothermal system and energy-efficient roof will pay for itself quickly through utility bill savings. A geothermal system will cost approximately $900,000 to install but the extra cost over a traditional unit will be recouped within six to 12 years depending on the type of well that can be built, he said.

“A geothermal system is 50 percent more efficient than the system you’ve got now,” Campbell said.

The current boiler/chiller system in the courthouse dates back to the 1950s and only one of two boilers work, Stevens said.

The new Energy Star insulated roof will cost an estimated $276,000, according to Campbell’s estimate. The roof, which is also nearing the end of its lifetime, Campbell said, is a necessity if the heating and cooling system is upgraded.

“It doesn’t make any sense to put in an energy-efficient system if you’re not going to keep the heat in,” he said.

Other upgrades such as a handicap accessible elevator are also needed to bring the building up to current standards, he said. The building has six distinct levels but only two are accessible via the small 1960s-era elevator, which is too narrow to accommodate a modern wheelchair, Campbell said.

A new elevator would be installed across the hall from the old one and have LED lighting and high efficiency controls that allow the elevator to hibernate when not in use. The elevator and installation would cost approximately $198,000, according to the estimate.

Design work for the upgrades can be completed within the next 45 to 60 days, but it is unclear how long it would take the county to secure grant funding.

Installation of the geothermal system and the new roof could take approximately six months, but Campbell said the work will be spread out in such a way to be as minimally invasive to operations at the courthouse.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.