Officials anticipate July completion for Pulaski County Courthouse renovations

It was recently announced that the $12-million renovation project of the Pulaski County Courthouse may be complete as soon as July, however, the project manager has not yet committed to a deadline for completion. 

Renovations at the Pulaski County Courthouse are wrapping up, with hopes of the project being complete by July.

The $12-million renovation project was first put into motion in 2016, saving the courthouse that was in threat of being torn down. The Pulaski County Courthouse was built in 1839, collecting wear and tear over the years that required much needed interior and exterior renovations, including expensive projects that entailed having to reinstall sections of the old limestone wall surrounding the property, changing out windows and replacing the concrete slabs in the basement.

Interior projects included the removal of the east and west main level entrances and the removal of the aluminum front on the original wooden doors on the north end. The renovations mean the building will be more ADA compliant, allowing visitors to better use and navigate the courthouse. Many of the renovations also addressed environmental health concerns, like water and moisture issues previously noticed in the courthouse basement that resulted in mildew and other related issues. 

Tonn and Blank, the construction management company, has been responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the renovation project, alongside county government representatives, engineering consultants and architects. During a Pulaski County Commissioners meeting earlier this month, Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer stated that although the team seems to be staying on track of the project timeline, the project manager has not yet committed to a July deadline for completion. 

The project's completion will centralize many Pulaski County government offices in one building like Origer’s office, the Veterans Service Office, the clerk’s office, the Maintenance Department, the auditor, the semester surveyor and the planning and zoning department, making it easier for locals to conduct business. Previously, many of those government departments had been in separate buildings throughout Winamac.