HERMANN — The consulting engineering firm for Gasconade County government has taken the first steps in what could be  the installation of an elevator at the historic courthouse.

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, Thursday morning said he met with members of Archer-Elgin engineering firm about a proposed elevator “in or on the building,” as well as storage structures proposed for county sites at Swiss and Drake.

Several weeks ago, various officeholders and their staffs submitted suggestions to the County Commission about possible courthouse upgrades that could be funded with a portion of the county’s $2.8-million American Rescue Plan Act allocation. One of those recommendations was to revive plans for an elevator, first proposed more than a decade ago and set aside.

Miskel said the engineering company will use the 2006 drawings as a starting point to begin crafting a feasibility study and a cost analysis for an elevator. Archer-Elgin also said it could act as the general contractor on the project, should the county decide to move ahead.

The presiding commissioner recommended the county move forward on the project by drafting a letter of agreement for the engineering work. Associate Commissioners Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, and Jim Holland, R-Hermann, agreed.

One possible location for an elevator is the east side entryway. County Administrators have noted how much the steps and porch of the east entryway are in need of repair. Indeed, the east entrance is scheduled to receive new doors as part of the anti-COVID measures taken more than a year ago and funded with CARES Act money. It’s unclear if or how the installation of an elevator — especially a lift on the outside of the building — might affect the entryway.

The new doors, which include a pair equipped with an automatic opener aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, are tentatively scheduled to arrive next month. They were ordered about a year and a half ago.

The other structures that Miskel discussed with Archer-Elgin staff involve storage sheds at the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Department substation in Swiss and the Road Department site in Drake.

The commissioners initially agreed to set aside $350,000 of the ARPA money for county projects. However, only about $600,000 of the first round of $1.4 million was committed for use by outside agencies, companies and non-profit organizations. Applications for funding out of the second round of $1.4 million are being taken until Aug. 1.

For the second round of funding requests, which must be filed with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), the $50,000 request limit was lifted, meaning an applicant could ask for as much as he thinks he would need. The County Commission will have the final word on which applications are approved and how much is allocated to the applicant.

Also regarding courthouse projects, local contractor Glen Englert is scheduled to examine flooring problems in some of the first-floor offices and give an estimate of the work. The Circuit Clerk & Record of Deeds Office is particularly affected by the flooring issues.

Hearing that Englert would be on hand to examine the first-floor flooring issues, Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Roger Armstrong suggested the contractor come upstairs and take a look at the wear taking place on the floor of the Sheriff’s Department office.

“Maybe while they’re here they can fix it before it becomes a bigger issue,” said Armstrong,who was sitting in on the Commission meeting in the absence of Sheriff Scott Eiler.

Armstrong told the Commission that the county law enforcement agency is ready for the Gasconade County Fair this week. He said the department would be able to cover the event with local deputies, but that a couple Maries County sheriff’s deputies will be brought in for added help.

The fair begins today (Wednesday) with a flag-raising opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at Owensville’s Memorial Park at Memorial Field.