Clock tower timeline gets pushed back

Published 8:03 am Thursday, March 29, 2018

The Clark County Courthouse won’t get its new bell tower this spring. It probably won’t even arrive until summer.

During Wednesday’s Clark County Fiscal Court meeting, Magistrate Robert Blanton said it now appears installation may not be finished by June. It was originally scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks.

“The reason we were told (for the delay) was that we changed the composition of the dome,” Blanton said. “They may come in and do the cornice work (sooner).”

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A Friday meeting with the contractors and those building the new tower should offer more information and details, he said.

“It’s unfortunate, but it is construction work,” he said.

The original tower had become structurally unsound and was causing major leaks on the top floor of the courthouse. It was removed in November and was demolished, except for the bell and the clock faces.

A new tower is being constructed off-site and will be delivered. The new tower, though, is not designed to support the weight of the bell, Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said. A decision has not been made concerning the bell’s future.

The fiscal court approved a $751,015 bid from Structural Systems Repair Group for the project, which was funded by a bond issue.

The Administrative Office of the Court also agreed to reimburse the county for 44 percent of the project cost.

A private donor donated $21,194 for the dome to be covered in gold leaf.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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