RINGGOLD, Ga. -- Catoosa County will spend an extra $50,000 on its courthouse renovations.
The County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved the extra spending on a project that was supposed to cost $740,000. Ross Andrews, the lead architect for the project, said the added expenses are the result of unforeseen obstacles.
There have also been issues with mold, as well as a leaky roof.
"We have to fix these things," County Manager Mike Helton told the commissioners. "If we don't, we'll be looking at it again."
The most expensive addition came when construction workers tried to place a beam on the roof of the 911 center. They are building a room atop the center for document storage, and the beam will support the floor.
But an air duct and electrical cables were in the way. They had to take apart the air duct, Andrews said, and the whole process ultimately cost an extra $11,000.
It also cost $8,000 to fill in windows in the basement of the historic courthouse, a problem Andrews said the county would have had to deal with anyway, sooner or later.
And then there was an issue with mold under some of the wallpaper in the county's main courtroom. Ripping off the paper, treating the mold and painting the walls cost $4,700.
Andrews said workers also fixed a problem with dripping water on the second-floor hallway. For years, he said, the courthouse staff has wondered why water kept leaking inside. The contractor suggested spending $12,000 to repair the roof in October, but Andrews said he found a simpler solution.
On the side of the building, like on most buildings, a pipe carries water from the roof to the ground. A small box next to the pipe holds the rainwater before shuffling it down the pipe.
Andrews said he found a small hole in the box. When the box filled with water, it slowly leaked into the building. He said he could patch the hole, costing the county about $2,400.
Overall, he said, these are problems that couldn't have been avoided.
"If all these [issues] had been known up front," he said, "[the county] would not have had a change order. The contract price would have been increased by the same amount. But you can't ever see all these things before."
The courthouse renovation is being paid for by special purpose local option taxes approved in the 2008 and 2013 elections. The project includes two expansions and several cosmetic renovations.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6467.