Finally.
It’s been at least three years in the making but repairs to the Mason County Detention Center should be completed by the end of June, Mason County Judge-Executive Joe Pfeffer said Wednesday.
Built in 1999 as one of the first in a flurry of new justice centers erected throughout the state under the eye of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Mason County structure has been riddled with issues for the past several years, many associated with water damage to the building, centered around leaks in the roof. The leaks caused damages to areas on the east and west sides of the building, as well as the flashing around the cupola.
During the 2016 General Assembly, $830,000 was included in the Judiciary Budget over the biennium for repairs to the facility. Finally, after a long process to assess the extent of damages and secure bids that took many months, work began early this spring. Originally scheduled to be completed by the end of May, weather that included rain and snow, pushed the project back, Pfeffer said. But now, the end is in sight, he said.
“I will be so glad to have that behind us,” Pfeffer, who has had to deal with the problem almost since his first day in office, said.
During the repairs, the cupola and dome were removed for the building, trucked to Campbellsville, repaired and returned. A metal replacement roof was added, new material was placed on the parapets also and areas of concern at front of the building, including deteriorating concrete steps have been fixed and an area below the front entrance where the stone had crumbled was replaced.
Despite the scope of the work, the project came in under budget and left a balance used to paint the front overhand, Pfeffer said.
Throughout the project, there was little disruption to court sessions, Pfeffer said.
The Project Development Board was established with members which include Pfeffer, Circuit Judge Stockton B. Wood, AOC Executive Officer of Facilities Scott Brown, AOC Budget Director Carole Henderson, AOC General Counsel March Theriault and Mason County Attorney John Estill.
The board meets monthly, Pfeffer said, and approves all changes orders in connection with the project.
The PDB earlier approved a bond sale to finance the project with Ross, Sinclaire & Associates. Brandstetter Carroll Inc. is the architect company for the project.
