LISBON - Although the project has been rumored as dead, Commissioner John Payne said Wednesday the restroom renovations at the county courthouse are targeted to be completed sometime in November.
Repairs for holes in the ceiling of the women's restroom between the first and second floors and ventilation for odors which float down the stairs are all among issues being addressed by someone currently making drawings for the project. Additionally, Payne said plans include ceiling lights, paint on the ceiling and new tiles for the floors and the walls. He would like to see all the pipes checked to make certain there are no problems prior to repairs being made. New mirrors and new heavy duty bathroom fixtures will be installed.
Payne said the women's lounge also needs some new furniture. With some employees trying to eat their lunches inside, he would like to see a better door to make it more pleasant than eating in a restroom facility.
The restrooms will be repaired one at a time, leaving another restroom available for use. The repairs would be for the two restrooms in the basement and the two on the landings on the stairs. There is $124,000 in the budget to complete the renovation project.
The restroom renovations were initiated by former commissioner Penny Traina, who was replaced by Payne last winter. Traina had promised employees at the courthouse that even though she was leaving, the restroom renovations would be completed. Payne said he has tried to pick up where Traina left off.
Payne said the improvements are "long, long overdue." The restroom renovations have been on a list of updates developed in 2008 for the courthouse. Employees who have been working at the courthouse more than 20 years report there has never been an upgrade to the restrooms during their tenure.
In another renovation related matter, commissioners approved the transfer of $48,000 for the loan payment to the USDA. The debt is from the renovations of the second floor courtrooms several years earlier. The payment schedule was set up in July of 2004.
