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County considers building matters

Jill Schramm/MDN Jerome Gruenberg with Mattson Construction addresses the Ward County Commission Tuesday.

Remodeling on the Ward County Courthouse is closing in on completion, while construction on the jail expansion is nearing 60 percent complete.

The Ward County Commission received an update on construction progress Tuesday. They also heard from a contractor distressed by frequent calls from the county to make repairs on finished construction in the Courthouse and new office building.

“While we have no problem taking care of warranty items, many of these are not warranty items,” Jerome Gruenberg with Mattson Construction told the commission. “These are maintenance items. This is damage that’s being done and we are being called in to fix it. That’s not right.”

Gruenberg said Mattson has been called in to address door malfunctions that are simply normal actions by the doors on windy days. Improper adjustments also have been made to doors that have led to damage that Mattson now is being asked to fix, he said.

The commission took no action but members indicated they planned to look into what has been happening with peeling paint and door adjustments. Building supervisor Leona Lochthowe said she was unfamiliar with any changes allegedly made to doors by staff.

There have been instances where the construction warranty has come in play, such as with ceiling tiles in parts of the administration building. The manufacturer of the ceiling tiles is making new tiles that are expected to be installed in mid- to late March.

Brian Kunz with Adolfson & Peterson, the construction management company on the jail expansion, said the lower level is 95 percent complete and finishing work will be done soon. Work is continuing on the second through fourth floors, with overall progress at 55 to 60 percent. Targeted for completion in October, the expansion project remains ahead of schedule.

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