Bids to replace the current roof on the courthouse came in a little bit higher than the budgeted amount, but Warren County commissioners said the figures were “reasonable.”

The submitted bids for a new 60 MIL TPO roof were $100,767 from Missouri Builders Services of Jefferson City, and $109,250 from Cardinal Roofing, Springfield.

The commissioners were surprised to receive only two bids after meeting with several prospective roofing companies earlier this summer prior to finalizing the bid specifications.

The bids also include extra insulation that will be placed under the new roof, a move that is expected to save up to $20,000 annually in heating and cooling costs, the commissioners said. The new roof also would be white rather than black.

The commissioners delayed awarding the project until they could review the bids further. Cost estimates had been around the figures that were submitted, but ranged as high as $130,000 and $165,000.

“The bids were reasonable,” Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. “We will have to go over them and discuss the scope of work.”

The county commission has $100,000 allocated for a new roof in this year’s budget. The county is trying to work with AmerenUE to take advantage of available funding through the company’s energy-efficiency program to slash the overall expense.

The current roof is 13 years old, the same one that was in place when the courthouse opened in 1997. The commissioners previously said they believe the current roof was intended to have a lifespan of seven years.

Weather permitting, the project could be completed by the end of August.

The roof replacement project shouldn’t affect day-to-day business at the courthouse. The commissioners initially said the gravel that is on top of the roof would be removed on a weekend so it wouldn’t cause a disruption, but work likely will be done in the last week of this month since both judges will be gone for the entire week.

“The beauty of it is (the crews) will take off a section and roof it that day,” Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. “You won’t have anything exposed at night.”

The county has dealt with numerous issues with the roof over the years, but patching tears is no longer an option, they said. A small leak, estimated to be the size of a quarter, was discovered above the Division 2 courtroom in early June, causing water damage to the wood fixtures inside the room and soaking the carpet. 

Cases were moved to the Division 1 courtroom for two days.

A conference room in the prosecutor’s office on the main floor also sustained some water damage. ServePro of St. Charles County was called in to help dry and clean the affected areas.

The commissioners had $100,00 earmarked for a new roof in 2009, but said patching the tears was a cheaper option to follow at that time. Since then, they said the roof’s condition has worsened.