Courthouse work nears completion

BENTON - Scott County commissioners provided their fellow officeholders and other county staff with an update on the courthouse renovation project during their regular meeting Tuesday.

"Everything seems to be going pretty well as planned," Commissioner Jamie Burger reported.

The old boiler heating system has been removed, according to Burger. "Associated Sheet Metal is pretty close to finishing on the installation of the heating and air conditioning," he said.

Burger asked that everyone in the courthouse take note of hot or cold spots around the building so they can try to eliminate them as they attempt to "fine tune" the new system.

The renovation project also includes removing old wiring that no longer goes anywhere as part of the electrical upgrades being installed throughout the courthouse. They are also trying to remove all exterior electrical boxes and conduits and window air conditioning units so the courthouse will be "a whole lot cleaner looking," Burger said. "We're trying to make the whole thing look a whole lot better and presentable."

Burger said eight or nine electrical circuits on the south end of the courthouse have been freed by removing the window air conditioner units and upgrading electrical wiring on the first floor.

Before the improvements, power for the collector's office on the south side of the courthouse was routed along the outside of the building from the basement on the west wing of the courthouse.

A room on the third floor formerly used as a storage and "catch all" has been remodeled, and the prosecutor will move his child support division to the third floor.

"Cubicle-type structures" will be used in many places instead of building walls, according to Burger.

He also said around 40,000 pounds of old records that did not need to be kept were shredded to make room in addition to tossing out things like old, broken typewriters and unused, yellowed window blinds.

Burger also asked that if anyone sees substandard installation or lack of quality in the remodeling, to "make sure we're aware of it" so it can be corrected.

"I know it's been an aggravation for everybody," Burger said about the renovation.

Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel said the old jury room, which was the last of the courthouse facilities that was not handicapped accessible, has been remodeled.

We've got a real pretty courthouse here," Priggel said. He said when the county is able, the next project should be restoring concrete and bricks on the courthouse's exterior.

Glenda Enderle, county treasurer, asked how they are doing on office space.

"We've got a few more offices around," Priggel answered.

"I think it's really going to be nice," Enderle said.

Burger said he regrets not documenting the project's progress with photographs for a scrapbook.

In other county business Tuesday:

* Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing the River Heritage Association as an official destination marketing organization.

Pansy Glenn, president of the River Heritage Association, explained the resolution reinstates the association's status as a destination marketing organization, making it eligible for Missouri Division of Tourism funding.

"Once you don't write for funds, you lose your status," Glenn said.

By signing the resolution, the county attests the River Heritage Association is a legitimate non-profit organization engaged primarily in tourism marketing and has demonstrated evidence of its ongoing tourism marketing activities and plans.

"We will be marketing the area's tourism," she said, adding that if Scott County has anything to market, "We would love to hear your ideas."

Burger advised her the county is building a Web site to promote the county. "We're actually the pilot program for the state," he said.

Formed in the late '80s, the River Heritage Association includes "12 counties from Ste. Genevieve down to the Arkansas border," according to Glenn, but only one needs to pass the resolution.

* Commissioners discussed the quarterly Scott County leadership roundtable meeting scheduled for noon Thursday at the Clinton Building.

Schwaninger said he is still waiting to hear from some of the mayors, but "the school districts I heard from." About 20 people, including the county commissioners, have said they will attend.

Priggel said Alex Sims will attend in place of Johnny Avance, chairman of Haywood City's Board of Trustees.

* Proposals-qualifications to implement the county's geographic information system were received by the county.

"We had six firms that submitted proposals and over the next few weeks the county's staff will be reviewing them to make a recommendation," said Jim Schwaninger, county economic developer.

Priggel said he would like to convey "how important it is to the school systems that have parcels out there they aren't getting taxes on ... (and) how we're working together with the towns" during the upcoming county leadership meeting.

Schwaninger said he would like to see commissioners be able to pull up the GIS data on laptops and "throw away these rolled and folded-up maps."

"It takes time and money," Burger said of the GIS. "It doesn't happen with a snap of the fingers."