Commissioners to fix Expo columns

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EATON — The Preble County Board of Commissioners will be partnering with Brandstetter Carroll Inc. to replace the columns in front of the Expo Expansion Project. The board was not happy with the company’s previous work, finding the columns to both be a hazard and unpleasing to the eyes. It will cost approximately $2,900 to replace those columns — money the board did not feel they should be responsible for.

During a recent meeting, commissioners decided to hold a conference call with Brandstetter Carroll. The board was concerned about the safety and aesthetics of the columns in front of the Expo Building. While they still owe the company approximately $6,000, the board wanted to settle the column issue before paying that bill.

While Commissioner Chris Day did not believe “it was an argument [they] could win,” the other two commissioners felt Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. should be responsible for replacing the columns.

During a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 21 the conference call took place between the board and Senior Vice-President Michael E. Carroll.

“Our concerns over the pillars are, they weren’t built to even common sense standards. The metal sticking out there is a danger to people walking by there. The bottom part of those pillars are not thick enough to compensate for the bigger top portion. Bottom line is, we have an estimate to get it fixed for about $3,000 and we don’t think that should be at our expense,” Commissioner Denise Robertson said.

“I can’t argue with you, the design is terrible on those columns. I have no defense and I am not going to argue that point. The only thing I will argue with you about is the cost. I’ve always said we will participate in the cost, but I do not think we should pay the entire cost,” Carroll said.

“It is a metal building and what you are proposing now is a much nicer finish then those metal columns. We tried to design this job — budget, budget, budget — to get the most affordability out of it.”

Commissioner Rodney Creech noted, they are not talking about the building. The board is happy with the building — they are only concerned with the additional money they have to pay to fix the columns.

Carroll’s offer was, he will pay for part of the additional bill, but believes the new product is a higher quality and thus he should not be responsible for the full price, since they had been held to a tight budget.

The board agreed Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. would pay $2,000 of the approximate $2,900 it would cost to replace the columns.

By Kelsey Kimbler

[email protected]

Reach Kelsey Kimbler at 937-683-4061 or on Twitter @KKimbler_RH

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