Hall County Courthouse, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners failed to reach a decision whether to have a mural painted on an outside wall of the Hall County Courthouse annex or to use brick to finish the wall.
The annex building is located south of the Courthouse.
Before voting, Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster showed commissioners a possible design for a mural. The top half of the mural would be the United States flag, and the bottom half would be the Nebraska flag. She did not have any cost estimate for a mural or a suggested artist who could do the mural.
Commissioner Jane Richardson noted that at some point, a mural would have to be repainted, so there would be an additional cost. The cost for a brick finish on the wall was approximately $72,000.
Another point brought up was that there would be a limited area from which the mural could be viewed.
Jane Richardson made motion was made to put a brick finish on the wall. Commissioners Jane Richardson, Butch Hurst and Scott Sorensen voted yes on the motion. Commissioner Ron Peterson abstained from voting. Commissioners Karen Bredthauer, Pam Lancaster, and Gary Quandt voted no on the motion.
In another matter, representatives from Chief Construction will meet with Hall County judges on May 21 to discuss when will be the best time during the day to have construction occurring on the courthouse addition so that the construction sound and construction action does not interfere with work being done at the courthouse.
Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster asked who would have responsibility if there is a structural issue during construction concerning opening a wall area on the courthouse. Hall County Board Chairman Ron Peterson responded that there is liability insurance that would cover the issue.
Hall County’s drug court is moving from the Law Enforcement Center to the first floor of the old federal building. County Facility Director Doone Humphrey told commissioners that two restrooms on the first floor will need to be remodeled. He did not have a cost estimate for that remodeling. A move-in date was not mentioned during the May 20 meeting.
During the process of tearing down the Department of Health and Human Services building east of the courthouse, fiber cable was cut. The commissioners voted 7-0 to pay D-El-COM $43,040 to repair the fiber cable.
Facility Director Doone Humphrey gave commissioners information about three possibilities for finishing a possible parking lot across the street east from the Administration Building. One estimate received for asphalt refinishing was $65,275. The cost for an asphalt milling finish would be approximately $16,000. The cost for crushed rock finish would be approximately $17,000. For all three possible finishes, the thickness would be 5 inches. Commissioners want to wait and see how many parking spaces open up in the Administration Building parking lot after the Department of Motor Vehicles office is no longer located in the Administration Building. They did not take action on the matter.
