The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
These two photos illustrates several of the issues that will be addressed by the courthouse basement renovation project approved by commissioners on December 11: the inefficent lighting; outdated electric storage heating; cracked, heaving concrete floor; and non-ADA compliant bathrooms.
Basement renovation floor plan of Foster County Courthouse courtesy of EAPC of Fargo.
Source: Foster County Commission
After more than two years of discussions, building assessments and bid lettings, the basement of the Foster County Courthouse will get a major facelift in the new year.
The Foster County Board of Commissioners accepted a proposal to renovate the courthouse basement at a special meeting on Monday, December 11.
Local firm General Roofing and Construction was the sole bidder. After some negotiation, the final accepted bid amount was $2,175,000.
On Tuesday, commissioners Alan Scanson and David Utke sat down with the Independent. They went over the history of the courthouse building and the work done to date, as well as the scope of the project and rationale for completing it now.
The basement project is part of a long-term plan for courthouse repair set in motion in 2017.
The scope of work includes several major improvements:
● Replacement of the cracked, heaving basement floor,
● Installation of LED lighting throughout
● Upgrade of the air exchange system to improve air quality,
● Installation of a new high efficiency heating and cooling system
● Changes to the floor plan to allow better use of available space
● Upgrade of the utility tunnel access
● Relocation of the bathrooms
● ADA compliance upgrades, including improved elevator access, new door hardware and signage.
Currently the building is heated with electric storage heaters, which are outdated and past their useful life, according to EAPC. The new heating system will be run on natural gas.
"We are 100 feet from a natural gas line, but the courthouse still has electric heat," Utke noted.
Also, much of the lighting appears to be original, and includes ornate incandescent fixtures and fluorescent fixtures. This project will update the lower level with LED lighting throughout.
Approximately half of the $2,175,000 cost will be paid for with general fund reserves, Utke said. The remainder will be covered by a combination of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 relief funds and courthouse repair levy dollars. See the sidebar on page 3 for a complete breakdown of the funds to be used.
"This will not restrict general fund budgeted amounts for 2024," Scanson said.
The current courthouse repair levy of 6 mills will continue, but no additional levies will be needed for the project.
All things considered, the risk of waiting was greater than the cost, Utke said. Completing the project one section at a time, over the course of years, was also not a cost-effective option. The price tag for completing each section on its own was considerably higher than if they were all done together, Utke added.
This is the second time the county has let bids for basement repair. They first called for bids in January 2023 for completion during the construction season, and they did not receive a single bid.
This time they called for bids in the fall so the project could be completed over winter, which they were told was more attractive to contractors who are typically busy with outside projects in the summer and fall.
A long time coming
According to State Historical Society records, the courthouse was constructed in 1909.
The east elevator addition was built in 1993, but the original courthouse building saw little repair or improvement for many years.
The county received a $30,000 grant from the State Historical Society in 2001. The funds, which were used to remodel the bathrooms on the lower level, included a requirement that the county "maintain and repair the property in order to preserve the architectural, historical or architectural integrity of the structure for a period of 30 years."
Then, 15 more years went by with little more done, and commissioners determined that a long-term plan was needed to address the lingering problems with the building.
In 2017, the county engaged architectural firm EAPC of Grand Forks, who conducted a complete assessment of the courthouse. Commissioners also first approved a courthouse repair levy of up to 6 mills in that year, according to county records.
That building analysis led to a few major projects over the past five years, paid for by the courthouse repair levy. The dome was repaired in 2017, the exterior of the courthouse was dewatered in 2019, and the cornice moulding around the top of the building was repaired in 2020.
In 2021, discussions began about the basement. On May 18, 2021, commissioners met with Chris Thomas of EAPC and passed a motion to have the firm develop a master plan and cost estimate for lower level upgrades.
The commissioners learned in February 2022 that they could use ARPA funds for the basement project. They then engaged in a contract with EAPC to develop detailed plans and specifications, which led to today's proposal.
Utke and Scanson said that work will begin in the new year, and they anticipate having the project complete by late summer.
They will develop phases for completion with the intent of minimizing the impact on the staff and the public. Currently, there are several offices located in the basement, including social services, the veterans service officer, housing authority office and a community/board room.
