Update - Courthouse work nears end

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Courthouse work nears end

Hattiesburg American - Hattiesburg,MS*

By TERRY L. JONES

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20071229/NEWS01/712290315/1002

After being forced to evacuate their headquarters two years ago,

Circuit Judge Bob Helfrich and his staff may finally get to return

to the Forrest County Circuit Courthouse if renovations continue on

schedule.

" We're on schedule to be completed around the first of March, " said

Adam Street, Jay-Van Co. project manager. " There haven't been any

problems. "

The courthouse has been closed since April 2006 after county

officials discovered a mold infestation supervisors blamed on

Hurricane Katrina.

The building was without air-conditioning for nine days following

the 2005 storm, which supervisors said caused pre-existing mold to

grow into a serious problem.

The county's insurance company, St. , has a different opinion,

and the county has hired a public adjuster to help recover as much

money as possible.

Forrest County placed a $506,108 claim on the courthouse's mold

problem with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but FEMA has

said only 90 percent of that sum would be eligible for

reimbursement - if the agency approves the claim at all.

The county also is seeking a grant from the Mississippi Department

of Archives and History.

" They had a contractor go in there and rip up all the floor and wall

coverings, " Street said.

About 50 court employees had to move into the Masonic Lodge next

door to the courthouse while renovation takes place.

Helfrich said although the Masonic Lodge is nice, its design is not

best suited for their purposes and he and his staff are all ready to

move back " across the street. "

" In circuit court we do jury trials, and I've got 14 jurors trying

to use one bathroom, " he said.

Jay-Van contractors said it would take them 240 days once

renovations began to complete the work.

As a constant reminder to that promise, Helfrich started his own

countdown on the third-floor window of the Masonic Lodge. He updates

the countdown every morning.

" For the record, he's off two or three days, " Street said. " He's a

good guy, (and) I know they are anxious to get back into the

building. "

Jay-Van Co. is being paid $3.2 million to renovate the building. The

renovation will include updates in the courthouse's interior

lighting, installation of a new sprinkler system and replacement of

a 20-year-old broiler.

Street said the courthouse's facelift also will include restored

windows, wall finishes and the installation of a new outside

drainage system.

" We're restoring the brick outside and waterproofing that, as well, "

Street said. " We're fireproofing it, (and) made some upgrades to the

roofing system. "