Christian County Fiscal Court Approves Courthouse Roof Replacement

Christian County Fiscal Court unanimously opted Tuesday morning to go forward with its long-planned roof replacement for the Christian County Courthouse — with an estimated cost of $348,000 behind a bid awarded to Swift Roofing Incorporated of Murray.

District 6 Magistrate Phillip Peterson noted this is a project that’s been on the court’s radar for no less than three years, and that the last 18 months of a global pandemic further slowed the progress.

Christian County Treasurer Walter Cummings said bids were opened on November 2 by local architect Chris Spurr, who put out the project specs, held the pre-bid conference and evaluated the bids before Swift was selected as the lowest option.

But Swift is no stranger to this court, after the company handled a roofing restoration contract for the annex to the historic Alhambra Theatre, and Cummings added this project will involve a standing seam metal roof with new guttering and downspouts.

Furthermore, the new roof is only a phase of courthouse restoration, which will also include cleaning and painting the front columns, as well as some tuck-pointing of the brick walls.

Construction will not begin until the spring, for more consistent weather, and the new roof will have a 25-year water-tight warranty.

In other business:

*District 3 Magistrate Mark Cansler presided as judge-executive pro tem for the court, as current Judge-Executive Steve Tribble was away on a personal matter.

*Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library Executive Director Deanna Sova noted 30 tickets remain for the upcoming Drop-In Dinner set for this upcoming Saturday afternoon and evening, which will use proceeds to build a new curbside drop-off for books. She also introduced Kadessa Snorton as the new Imagination Library coordinator, hired eight days ago.

*All local veterans are invited to a Veterans Day Breakfast at the Hopkinsville High School Cafe Thursday morning at 7, but should call (270) 887-7125 to make known any hopes of attendance.