(Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith:The Cortland Voice)
The Cortland County’s Buildings and Grounds Department is taking on a project to replace the two emergency exit doors at the County Courthouse as part of the push to rejuvenate one of the county’s oldest buildings.
At Tuesday’s County Legislature Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting, Buildings and Grounds Director Chuck Miller presented a quote from Syracuse-based Assa Abloy Entrance Systems for $5,628.77 per door.
The sum would cover the installation of one door, insurance, glass and glazing, perimeter caulking, transom framing above the door, and the removal and disposal of existing doors, according to documents from the county. The new doors will be dark bronze and will be insulated with bronze glass, according to a memo sent to the county by Assa Abloy representatives.
Due to the antiquity and historical value of the building, Miller said the replacement was approved by the county’s historical society.
“We (were approved) because it is work meant to replace the existing doors and possibly improving the look to match more of the courthouse,” he added. He noted that further improvements to the courthouse, including a project to repair the entryway steps, will require further inspection from the historical society. “That is a larger project and will have to (feature more involvement from the historical society).”
Linda Kline, the chair of the City of Cortland Historic Commission, said in an email to Miller and historical society members that the commission felt no need to further review the doors project.
“The profile remains the same other than the color, which will change to better match the existing windows and the door,” Kline said. “The current door is attached and when installation of the new doors a photo will be sent.”
The project will be funded by the Buildings and Grounds Department budget, but will be reimbursed with funds from the county’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation. This reimbursement is part of the larger project to revitalize the courthouse. At past meetings, legislators have pledged $1 million in federal funds to restore the historic building.
The committee also voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a previous resolution that sought to approve a contract of up to $70,000 with Syracuse-based architecture firm Bell and Spina to detail the specifications of the project to revamp the courthouse’s entry staircase.
The amendment shifted the cost from up to $70,000, to up to $75,500.
“I estimated $70,000 and we moved to not spend any more than that,” Miller said. “The estimate from the firm actually came up to $75,500. Even with that glitch, everything is moving forward as planned. I just had to get that (resolution amended) to make sure we can get the paperwork right.”
