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Analysis of the sagging floor of the third-floor Law Library at the Wells County Courthouse has been put on hold for a couple more weeks.
At their meeting this week, members of the Wells County Board of Commissioners received a quote for the cost of taking a core sample from the floor.
Board members decided to delay action until their next meeting, however, when they can review cost information for engineering analysis of the core sample.
The area has been a subject of discussion since a Feb. 12 special meeting to address an area of sagging floor and a growing vertical crack along an interior wall in the Law Library.
The Law Library area on third floor consists of two rooms in the northwest corner of the Courthouse. It is located behind Wells Circuit Court.
The area had a combination of 21 heavy, fire-resistant file cabinets, numerous other file cabinets and a large number of old law books, many obsolete.
Total weight of the area is estimated at about 50 tons — 100,000 pounds.
Courthouse Custodian Bobbie Studebaker briefed the commissioners on progress of lightening or repositioning the weight of the library area.
The fire-resistant file cabinets, each weighing about 2,800 pounds when full, have been moved over load-bearing walls of the Courthouse.
Studebaker received a quote of $425 from Materials Inspection & Testing (MIT) Inc. of Fort Wayne to do a core sample of the Law Library and also the attic area above 4th floor.
That company will report on the type of flooring materials found.
That information then would need to be turned over to a structural engineer for analysis of the weight-bearing capacity of the areas.
Commissioner Scott Mossburg suggested holding off on the core sample until information is received on potential cost of the engineering analysis.
At their meeting this week, the commissioners also received some additional background information regarding the Courthouse building’s structural capacity from a longtime observer of the building.
Local architect and County Historian Craig Leonard stopped by with information from a study that he conducted in the 1970s of the historic building, which was completed in 1891.
He indicated that the sturdy structural system of the Courthouse consists of masonry vaults between the webs of steel beams.
Original specifications for the building are included in an old book located in the Auditor’s Office, he said.
Leonard also provided a copy of a 1977 letter from County Highway Engineer Larry Owen regarding load capacities of the beams in the Courthouse attic floor.
Employees using the Law Library have noticed some additional, lesser floor problems in another part of the area since the heavy file cabinets were moved, Studebaker reported.
Several hundred old law books had been removed from the Law Library recently to allow room for the movers.
The books have lined the ground floor walls of the Courthouse hallway.
Studebaker has recently rearranged those books again to make room for furniture from the Auditor’s Office that is being replaced, she told The News-Banner this morning.
Circuit Court Judge David Hanselman Sr. hopes to go through the old books soon, she said.
The county plans to send the obsolete books to recycling facilities. Officials believe they can eliminate about 15 tons of weight by removal of the obsolete books.
In other business, commissioners Paul Bonham, Mossburg and Kevin Woodward:
— Received a draft from Woodward of a Wells County Chamber of Commerce proposal for economic development restructuring. The proposal would redefine the Economic Development Council, which would hold monthly meetings. Membership would include representatives of city and county government, Chamber leadership and a representative each of the agriculture sector and the business sector. The CEO of the Chamber would be a non-voting member and would serve as board secretary. Discussion will continue March 13 at the next meeting of a small group of city, county and Chamber leaders who are working to reach agreement on future direction for the economic development function in Wells County.
— Agreed to discuss construction-related traffic for the proposed ethanol plant at their next meeting. Mossburg expressed concern about possible damage to County Road 200S from the traffic. Further discussion also is planned regarding a possible east-west traffic bypass route that would help west-side traffic get to Ind. 1 on the south side of Bluffton.
— Received a report on ridership in the Wells on Wheels (WOW!) public transportation program operated through the Wells County Council on Aging. Jen Weinstock, the program’s transportation director, said there were 22,438 trips in 2006. There were 16,378 trips in 2005, the program’s first year of public transportation operation.
— Heard from Executive Director Bonnie Valind that the Council on Aging provided 1,098.5 hours of in-home homemaker and handyman services during 2006. The telephone reassurance/friendly visitor program assisted 37 individuals. Valind noted that Ed Goetz and Elizabeth Deihl are again assisting people with tax returns.
— Learned from Sheriff Bob Frantz that Wells County Jail had 81 inmates on Monday, including 16 from the Indiana Department of Corrections.
— Were briefed by Frantz on his discussion with Norfolk Southern on the problem of trains frequently blocking the rail crossing at County Road 700N. Sheriff’s deputies have issued a number of recent tickets to railroad crews for blocking the intersection. Frantz noted that he agrees with concerns of neighboring residents about the situation. He particularly worries that emergency runs of a fire truck or ambulance might be blocked. A school bus recently had to back down the road since it could not pass. A similar problem with the railroad several years ago brought action by the commissioners, it was noted. County Attorney Trent Patterson will check his file for more information.
— Learned from Highway Supervisor Ed Herman that repairs have been completed on a department truck that rolled while engaged in snow removal duties during the recent heavy storm. The frame was straightened. Total cost was $1,645.13.
— Approved utility permit requests from Verizon for borings under county roads at 5677W 900N and at 3640N 400W.
— Were given a listing by Emergency Management Director Jerri Lehman of a variety of incidents for which she is required to notify the State Emergency Operations Center. The list includes severe weather, haz-mat incidents, major utility disruptions, and a number of specific violence-related issues.
— Learned that Lehman is seeking quotes for a generator for the Maplewood Home.
— Received a letter from the United Way of Wells County requesting funding assistance for the Imagination Library. The program provides a free, age-appropriate, hard-cover book every month to each participating child in Wells County from birth through their 5th birthday. The program is provided in conjunction with Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation.
— Reviewed collection reports from the Surveyor’s Office, Recorder’s Office, Clerk’s Office, Probation Department and Sheriff’s Office.
— Approved county payroll in the amount of $178,164.21.
— Authorized payment of 246 claims in the amount of $226,176.32.
gfrank@news-banner.com
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