County takes first steps towards jail roof repairs

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by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission hired an architect to do a mechanical study in the first step to repairing the roof on the Marion County Jail.

Marty Meyers with Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates, was present at Monday’s meeting to review with the commissioners what he believes is the best way to repair the roof.

Also Monday, the commissioners met with Allona Kizer concerning the ARPA funds and signed a resolution.

First and foremost, Meyer said tearing off everything on the roof and replacing it with a pitched roof is not the way to go at the jail.

“That building is not designed to hold up another structure on top of the roof,” he said, noting that is basically what would have to happen to add a pitched roof. “Plus your air conditioning units, exhaust vents and other units would have to be extended to fit above a pitched roof.

In addition, Meyers said the area between the current roof and a pitched roof would have to have a sprinkler system.

While Meyers estimated a total tear off and replacement would cost in the half a million dollar range, he noted he didn’t think everything would need to be torn out.

“Take the wet out and leave the dry on,” he said, adding a thermal scan would be necessary to determine what those areas would be at a cost of between $5,000 and $7,000. “You will probably make up that cost in savings to not replacing everything.”

“I haven’t been up there, but I’m betting not a lot needs to be changed, just maintained,” Meyers added.

As an advocate of the interior roof drains, which the jail currently has, Meyers said it is essential to keep those cleaned out but other work is probably not necessary.

After discussing the need to know what mechanical units might need to be replaced prior to a roof being repaired, the commissioners hired Meyers to do a mechanical study, based on what Sheriff Jimmy Shinn has to say about any issues with those units.

Meyers further noted the next step would be to do the infrared study to determine how much of the insulation could remain and how much torn out, but the commissioners voted to wait on that step.

In addition Meyers said a good set of specs will need to be written so there is a “level playing field” for all contractors wanting to bid on the project and provided the commissioners with a cost estimate for him to do that.

In other business, Allona Kizer with the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments was present to discuss the ARPA funds.

According to Kizer, the Douglass Community Services cannot turn in their Community Development Block Grant until there is a commitment from someone for the matching funds.

Although the CDBG people have said ARPA funds can be used as matching funds, the MTRCG advisors have said there is a risk to that as the ARPA guidelines currently state those funds cannot be used as matching funds for other federal programs.

The commissioners did not give their support for using those funds as matching funds noting they “did not want to stick their necks out” and be liable for the funds if it turns out  ARPA funds cannot be used as matching funds.

They also suggested Kizer ask Douglass Community Services to have their lawyers make a determination, which the county will then have their attorney review.

The commissioners also:

• reviewed the current sales tax, which continues to be in good shape;

• noted the sign in front of the courthouse has been taken down to be repaired; and

• signed a resolution supporting the governor’s executive order and the attorney general’s lawsuit over vaccination mandates.