Consultants report details problems with old courthouse

The historic Flagler County Courthouse, front, needs extensive works before it can be occupied but the annex is in pretty good shape, a consultant told Bunnell city officials.

BUNNELL Before the county seat can relax in the old Flagler County Courthouse, the building needs extensive cleaning and remediation.

That was the conclusion of consultant Rich Van Dort in a report delivered to city officials during a workshop last week.

You have to get the building under control for moisture, that is your biggest issue there, Van Dort told commissioners, referring to the historic courthouse facility. The annex building adjacent to the older structure is in better shape, he said, but it still needs mold remediation.

Van Dort said the historic courthouse building has a major problem with humidity because the air handler system was haphazardly put together.

Youve got a multitude of air handlers just in ceilings of rooms, he said.

The city concluded an interlocal agreement with Flagler County to take over the historic courthouse last year. As part of the agreement, city officials agreed not to make any exterior changes to the structure but theyre free to rework the interior of the facility.

Van Dorts report was the citys first step in assessing the extent of work that needs to be done to make the building safe for use. The city paid $11,900 for the report and an initial assessment done earlier.

Van Dort said for the historic courthouse to be made usable, the entire building has to be cleared of mold and carpeting and other areas that contain mold should be removed.

Basically, youve got to strip that building down to its bare bones, he told commissioners. Theres a lot of wood paneling that has to be removed.

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Consultants report details problems with old courthouse