Governor's Mansion redo costs push past $800,000: Baton Rouge

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Governor's Mansion redo costs push past $800,000

Master bathroom also getting a facelift

Saturday, August 06, 2005By Ed

Capital bureau

BATON ROUGE -- The state is paying $41,479 to renovate the private bathroom

and dressing room on the second floor of the Governor's Mansion while asbestos

and mold are removed from the structure, officials said Friday.

The tab for the entire project, originally estimated at $525,300, is now

expected to reach $804,500, including other repairs and the cost of moving the

governor to a private residence, according to the state Division of

Administration, the fiscal arm of the governor's office.

This is the first time such work has been done since the mansion was built 42

years ago, said Maris LeBlanc, executive counsel to the commissioner of

administration.

LeBlanc said remodeling the 170-square-foot bathroom area is long overdue and

was recommended to the mansion's previous occupant, Gov. Mike . " But he

didn't want to deal with it, LeBlanc said. " It is aged and dated. They were

having difficulty . . . buying replacement parts. "

also refused to go along with a plan to remove the mold while he was

in the mansion, officials said.

LeBlanc said the state Office of Buildings and Grounds got approval from Gov.

Kathleen Blanco to do the work in the bathroom while she and her husband

are uprooted for the mold work.

The bathroom job includes demolition of the existing bath area for $2,800; a

marble-top lavatory, new tile floor and tub renovation for $14,160; cabinetry,

millwork and labor for $5,500; new drapes, wallpaper and mirror for $5,487;

new fixtures, including toilet, basins, shower, tub and faucets for $6,082.40;

paint and labor for $2,500; and " design fees " costing $4,950.

LeBlanc described the bath fixtures as " good quality, state of the art . . .

but nothing extraordinary. " She said Blanco requested a separate shower and

tub but said it will not expand the size of the bathroom.

State officials also provided a breakdown for mold and asbestos work on the

mansion:

-- $525,300 to clean or replace an estimated 5,000 feet of ducts and vents in

which mold was detected.

-- $180,248 to remove asbestos from parts of the mansion.

-- $33,410 to replace the fire alarm system, which has been called " obsolete

and unreliable. "

The work also includes installing new air-conditioning components in the

basement and attic, and a system to more efficiently monitor air conditioning

and

heat use.

While the renovation is going on, the Blancos are living in a fully furnished

home owned by businessman Dii Jr. The state is paying rent of

$5,000 per month.

The state's lease on the home runs through Sept. 30, but state officials said

the Governor's Mansion should be finished by the end of August. Under the

terms of the lease, the state does not have to pay September's rent if at least

10 days notice is given, which would cap lease payments at $15,000.

The rented home is 4,900 square feet, including 3,666 square feet of living

area in the main house and a 1,200-square-foot swimming pool and pool house.

LeBlanc said to make the home ready for the governor, the state had to spend:

-- $3,174.25 on eight security cameras. LeBlanc said the cameras will be

taken out of the private home and moved to the Governor's Mansion once the

renovations are finished. The labor to install the cameras was $1,428.

-- $1,334.70 for high-speed Internet connection for three months and a

one-time charge of $80 to install the lines.

-- $1,318.35 for voice communications lines for three months, and $1,342 to

install those lines. LeBlanc said the lines will stay at the house because it

would be too expensive to remove them, but they probably will be deactivated.

-- A $340 fee to connect and disconnect the lines.

.. . . . . . .

Ed can be reached at eanderson@... or (225) 342-5810.

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