Courthouse interior needs upgrades

On the outside, the Kosciusko County courthouse was refurbished in the 1990s.

But on the inside, there's work to be done.

Pipes have leaked or burst. The courthouse wasn't wired for all the equipment now being used, such as copy machines and computers. And if one side of the courthouse is hot, another side may not be.

"We are in desperate need of having something done with our heating system," Ron Robinson, county administrator, told the county commissioners Tuesday.

Recently, A. Hattersley & Sons Inc., Fort Wayne, took a close look at the heating, plumbing and electrical needs of the county courthouse. They will make a presentation to the county council and commissioners in a joint meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. on what needs to be done and give a cost estimate.

Tuesday, the county commissioners approved to proceed with the the project. If the council approves to proceed with the project, the project will be bidded out and the county also will have to hold a wage committee hearing.

In another project, Robinson said he still is waiting on official drawings from the architect for the kitchen for the work release center. Once the drawings are completed, there will be a cost estimate for that project. The state must then approve the work and then the county can proceed with bidding out the project.

Robinson said he hopes the work will begin in the spring.