Courthouse maintenance concerns addressed

Antelope County Commissioners learned about concerns regarding window frames and falling apart and buckling carpet during the Jan. 7 meeting in Neligh.

Marlene Schindler shared concerns during the janitorial and maintenance report.

"Most of the window frames are falling apart. Most of the windows I cannot even open," she said.

Clerk Lisa Payne said she and Schindler discussed contacting a local handyman to see if he would tackle the job.

Chairman Charlie Henery said if the individual can't, a carpenter will need to be hired.

Carpet in the district court office is buckling.

"This building is really shifting. I can see all the new cracks showing up in the walls," Schindler said.

"It's over 100 years old," Henery added.

Commissioner Regina Krebs asked if the current floor covering could be stretched. Henery wondered if it would be feasible to remove the carpet and see if the wood floor underneath is in good shape.

Payne said if the cost is under $10,000, "let's get it taken care of."

Commissioners recommended having Urbanec Furniture personnel look at the area and make a recommendation.

Schindler also said she fielded two phone calls on Jan. 2 regarding snow removal at the courthouse. Typically, inmates housed at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center handle scooping snow. On Jan. 2, Payne shoveled snow since Sheriff's Department personnel were on site of an accident east of Neligh and were unable to bring inmates to perform the task.

Schindler asked road superintendent Leigh Kluthe if could spare a couple employees, if the situation would arise again.

"I can get one or two available, but the only problem with that, if it's a heavy snow, we're all in graders," he said.

Payne said it isn't a big deal.

"In life, if you can't be there, then a person has to show up. I'm not faulting anybody because I know everybody is busy," she said. "The sheriff did come down after the accident."

Commissioner Casey Dittrich said if the sheriff is unavailable, utilize road department personnel.

"There's somebody available," he said.