York County to consider $7.3M for courthouse renovation

After years of planning, debate and delays, York County leaders are to vote Tuesday on spending up to $7.3 million to finish the renovation of the York County Courthouse.

The county staff has recommended the York County Council award the project to Leitner Construction Co. of Rock Hill, which submitted the lowest bid of four companies that sought the job.

The work is to begin immediately, according to a memo from the county’s staff to County Manager William Shanahan and other top leaders, and be finished by Aug. 31, 2016.

Assistant County Manager David Larson said in an email to The Herald the courthouse would be about $385,000 under the county’s $7.7 million construction budget if the council approves all the recommended work.

York Mayor Eddie Lee, who lobbied with other leaders and members of the Yorkville Historical Society to save the courthouse, said he has been told the project should be complete for York’s 2016 Summerfest in late August.

Lee said that will mark the 230th anniversary of the first courthouse in downtown York, which dates to 1786. The present courthouse dates to 1914.

“It would be wonderful to have the renovated courthouse open for people on Summerfest, and the county has told us that is the target date,” Lee said.

The cost includes Leitner’s base bid of just over $7 million. The county staff also has recommended paying $296,500 for five additional projects, for which the construction firms submitted separate bids.

The five projects brings the total to about $7.3 million.

The five additional projects, and the amount bid by Leitner for that work, are adding an emergency power generator, $93,000; adding a dumbwaiter, to move heavier items between floors, $37,000; creating a new entrance at the adjacent Agricultural Building, $19,000; purchasing a two-year extended warranty, $50,000; and putting up a canopy for the new entrance, $97,500.

The new entrance into the Agricultural Building parking lot from South Congress Street is needed to allow construction access between that building and the courthouse and will improve circulation in the parking lot, Larson said.

Larson said the county budgeted $9.1 million for the courthouse work in November 2014. He said it has spent about $642,000 so far on architectural work, demolition and other costs.

The renovations have been delayed over the last seven years for a variety of reasons, including concerns about the cost of removing asbestos and lead-based paints and changes in firms hired by the county.

The council agreed to move forward last year, after some council members balked at the expected cost of continuing the courthouse work and historic preservationists came to its defense.

Cummings Construction Management, a firm hired to handle the county’s capital projects, told the council the courthouse could be done for $9.1 million, about $2 million less than original estimates.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 11:31 PM with the headline "York County to consider $7.3M for courthouse renovation."