By John Estridge
It will cost more than a quarter of million dollars to fix the belfry on top of the Franklin County Courthouse, as well as a bevy of cranes.
FC Commission President Tom Linkel recently spoke about the different quotes the county has received.
The first action will be to remove the bats from the top of the inside of the courthouse. Those who have seen them said the bats are thick up there and hang upside down. But it is more than just physically removing the insect eaters. Bat waste is called guano and is extremely dangerous.
According to skedaddlewildlife.com, guano “can provide a breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms. Of particular concern are spores of a fungus that causes a potentially deadly lung disease called histoplasmosis. These spores may be released when the guano is disturbed.”
Commissioners received two quotes. Terminix’ bid was $63,455 while Advance Wildlife Management came in at $26,939.
There was such a disparity, commissioner Tom Wilson was concerned about the lowest bidder. He asked FC Highway Engineer Larry Smith if the company with the lesser bid was professional and responsible. Smith answered in the affirmative to both queries.
After the bats and their waste are removed, then the belfry will have to be removed from the courthouse. And, according to commissioners, it needs to be removed sooner and not later. Both Linkel and Wilson said they believe the belfry has moved again recently. A passerby started the whole situation by informing county officials the belfry was leaning. Now, the commissioners said it appears to be leaning more.
Lykins Contracting Co. of Sunman is taking the cupola or belfry off and then repairing the roof. The company will use three cranes to do it. The county will provide traffic control on Main Street while this is occurring. The cost is $126,300. Linkel was amazed by the three cranes.
“Lykins did tell me they have to set three cranes,” Linkel said. “They can’t get a man-lift basket – that’s 180 feet from Main Street at an angle up to where their work station is — and they can’t find a man-lift station that will reach 180 feet. So, they’re going to put three cranes. They’re going to put one main crane to set and get a hold of the cupola, and two more cranes with man-baskets on to come from each side to work off of. What an ordeal.
“How they did it in the 1800s is what I want to know,” he continued. “That’s what I don’t understand.”
Linkel said he believes the removal and fixing the roof will take a week.
After that, there will be a new cupola constructed. It will be made out of steel frame aluminum siding.
Campbellsville Industries Inc. was the only company with a quote for that part of the complex job. Its bid is for $64,878, and that does not include the crane or the traffic control. It is believed Main Street will have to be shut down while the Lykins crane and the crane for the Campbellsville company are out on Main Street.
Commissioners said U.S. 52’s traffic will be diverted onto Mill Street/Fairfield Avenue during those occasions. They will speak with the state about the situation.
While the removal of the bats and the belfry must be done soon, the commissioners do not envision the new cupola being placed onto the courthouse until Spring 2021. Linkel said the courthouse will be without a belfry for about two to three months or longer.
The total project cost includes the rent of a crane, Smith said. Commissioners said they are adding a 10 percent contingency for the project.
Franklin County Council still needs to approve the project. Once council approves it, the company to remove the bats will be called in. Council is going to use money from a bond it recently floated. The bond is really the continuation of the bond the county had to remodel the old Brookville High School/Middle School into the Government Center on Franklin Avenue in Brookville. Instead of losing that part of the tax rate, council decided to float the bond. Originally, council members wanted to buy equipment for the highway department and for different offices with the money from the bond. But that was before the problems with the belfry were exposed.
Now, council has decided to fund the belfry replacement and buy some of the needed equipment at the highway department.
Commissioners unanimously approved all of the quotes.
“I’m glad we’re moving forward,” Linkel said. “That was starting to worry me.”