May 1, 2008
Extreme Makeover for Courthouse

Photo by Dave Maxwell Dave Pasavoi, Crew Supervisor with Belfor USA explaining the cleanup and restoration work at the courthouse.

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

The old gal is getting an interior upgrade. The water damage caused by the broken water supply line on the third floor of the County Courthouse has resulted in major restoration work, including replacement of ceilings, walls and floor coverings in several of the offices on the south side of the building. The Grants Office and office of Judge Mike Cowley on the third floor are being completely redone, as is the Assessors Office on the main floor. The carpeting in most of the building, including hallways and stairs, is being replaced and Commissioners said they would probably use a higher grade than what currently exists.

At the April 21 County Commission meeting County Manager John Loveday reported that Belfor USA, a part of the world’s largest disaster restoration company, with offices coast to coast, including Las Vegas, responded within hours after receiving his call.

David Pasavoi, Crew Supervisor with Belfor USA, reported to Commissioners that his crews, working double-shifts, had completed the dry down of the entire building using the truckload of heaters, humidifiers, and blowers Belfor brought with them. “We’ve checked the whole building and find no more signs of moisture at all,” he said.

Workers began Monday morning with new drywall reconstruction in the second and third floor offices and expect to have that, plus texturing and finish carpentry done by April 24. Offices that needed only partial restoration and painting will be worked on in the evening after regular business hours. The water lines, where the break occurred on the third floor, were also replaced. However, because the Lincoln County Rodeo in Panaca had already booked all of the available motel space in Caliente, Panaca and Pioche for this coming weekend, Mr. Pasavoi said his crew would have to come back to finish their work next week as well. He also suggested Commissioners talk to their insurance adjustor and consider putting in a false ceiling in the basement floor hallway rather than paint over the slight water stains to the ceiling.

As of April 29, Lovelady reported, “Everything has been cleaned out and dried out. The walls are replaced, the repainting of the interior is being done this week and we’re supposed to have carpeting next week, and we’ll be back in business.” John Lovelady said Belfor’s prompt response and the quick action of local citizens to remove water and water soaked items from the building the day of the accident saved the County untold thousands of dollars in extra expense. He said some of the documents in the basement vaults that sustained water damage, after being examined and deemed non-essential, were shredded. All examined documents that are essential and irreplaceable were turned over to a private document restoration company. A document specialist was sent in by the County’s insurance company to work on valuable documents that sustained the worst damage and full restoration is expected.

In the basement, all the records from the vaults were removed so cleanup could be done and the Planning Department office was also being partially renovated. The vaults will also be waterproofed.