Old Jail window update is slated for this summer
The Old Jail in Millersburg, home of the Holmes County commissioners and several other county departments, will get a makeover this summer with the addition of new windows throughout the entire building.
Any old ghosts that want to slip in and out of the Old Jail building in Millersburg, which is the home of the Holmes County commissioners and several other government departments, will soon have a little tougher time doing it.
After years of dealing with aging windows, the commissioners have agreed to purchase new windows for the entire building.
The cost of the window replacement will be $74,863, which may seem like a significant investment, but according to commissioner Dave Hall, the project should have been done well prior to this.
“These windows were supposed to be replaced a long, long time ago,” Hall said. “It was one of those things where they remodeled this building, but they kept the original windows because at the time they didn’t have sufficient funds to replace the windows.”
Hall said while seemingly expensive, the new windows will actually pay dividends because they will be much more efficient in keeping heating in and cold air out.
“You get a nice, little wind going right now, or it gets cold outside and these older windows aren’t very frugal with heating and cooling,” Hall said. “We’re losing a lot of energy right now. This is one of our last buildings in the county that needs to be brought up to speed in terms of the window updates. I think we will recover our cost in efficiency in a hurry, and that’s a huge thing for us.”
In addition, the windows on the second floor are not even able to open, which could create a dire situation should a disaster occur by deterring a possible escape route.
The project contract between E&L Builders of Charm and the county will include the purchase and installation of Anderson E windows.
“These are top-notch windows that will last a long time and save us money,” commissioner Joe Miller said. “There aren’t many things worse than having bad windows, and this may not be the cheapest but it is the best we can provide.”
The current windows are more expensive because they are much taller than a typical window.
Tim Morris, Holmes County director of buildings and grounds, said the process took time because of the unique size of the windows.
“These windows are really tall, and we had to special order them, which takes time and adds to the expense,” Morris said.
The county has utilized the expertise of E&L Builders prior to this, the company having done some work on the courthouse, at the adult probate office, and in the hallway and main doorway in the Clinton Street building.
Morris said E&L Builders comes with a great reputation and a long, positive history in working with the county.
“They’re top-notch, easy to work with, and you won’t find anyone better for the job,” Morris said. “I’m very comfortable having them do the work.”
Miller said the company has two crews that do nothing but replace windows.
Work is expected to take place on the project sometime this summer.
Hall said it is an investment for the future and one the county wants to do right to continue to keep the county buildings solid.
Miller said some day in the future the county will have to invest in updating and replacing the Holmes County Courthouse windows, which will be a much more monumental undertaking.
Morris has already looked into pricing that job out, and he said currently the cost would be around $900,000 or more, and it won’t be getting cheaper anytime soon.
“There are 13 different sizes of windows there,” Morris said. “They look symmetrical from the outside, but once you measure them, they are 4 or 5 inches different in size.”
Hall said every courthouse in the state is in a similar boat when it comes to replacing the windows on buildings that are many decades and even centuries old. He said seeking grant funding will be the most economical way for the county to pursue an undertaking of that magnitude.