GREENFIELD — Hancock County leaders plan to spend money already in the county coffers for repairs to the courthouse roof instead of pursuing a $5 million bond that would’ve raised property taxes.
The Hancock County Council unanimously approved the expenditure at a joint meeting with the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. The county will contract with Blackmore and Buckner Roofing LLC, of Noblesville, for courthouse roof repairs to not exceed $198,500. The money will come from the county’s food and beverage fund.
Before the county boards could OK the work, the commissioners had to terminate an initial $80,000 contract with Blackmore and Buckner for minor repairs to the courthouse roof. Brad Armstrong, commission president, said $198,500 will pay for a 20-year roof repair job instead of the $80,000 minimal work. The roof was last replaced around 2001, Armstrong said, citing county documentation.
The contract also requires Blackmore and Buckner to complete the work by Sept. 28, before the annual Riley Festival in downtown Greenfield from Oct. 4 to 7. Armstrong said the company will use two large cranes in order to repair the tower roof. As of press time Thursday, Blackmore and Buckner did not respond for comment to the Daily Reporter about a tentative start date for construction.
The council and commissioners previously considered issuing a bond up to $5 million, which would raise property taxes, to pay for the courthouse roof repair as well as other fixes to county buildings. Armstrong said he was hesitant to “sign a $5 million blank check” without having a set plan in place for the bond.
Councilwoman Martha Vail agreed, saying the county has adequate funding to do the repair.
“I don’t like saying you’re going to do a bond and not even know what’s going to be in it,” Vail said. “If we have a need and it presents itself, then we’ll do a bond. Right now, $200,000 is all we’re talking.”
Councilman Jim Shelby said fixing the roof is an “emergency situation,” so whether the county chooses to issue a bond, the work still needs to happen. He suggested using monies from the county’s food and beverage fund for the repairs, adding that they could reimburse those funds from a bond.
With no consensus met on specific projects to include in a $5 million bond, Armstrong asked the council if they would rather spend $198,500 from county funds instead of issuing a bond. The council agreed.
Auditor Robin Lowder said the county will need to make an additional appropriation to the food and beverage fund in order to pay for the repairs. A public hearing on the appropriation will occur at 9 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Commissioners Court, according to a public notice posted in Thursday’s Daily Reporter.
