By RYAN CARTER

Staff Writer

An award of $1.9 million to pay for the renovation and preservation of the Fayette County Courthouse was presented to the county commissioners on Monday by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development organization.

The funding is from the Rural Development’s Community Facility Loan and Grant program, according to Randall Hunt, state director for USDA Rural Development.

“The partnership we share with Fayette County’s leadership positions us to help with projects focused on preserving the county’s historic heritage,” said Hunt. “Working cooperatively with community leaders and residents to transform their local development visions into reality is what Rural Development’s mission is truly about.”

The Community Facility Program uses grants and loans to help communities develop essential facilities for public use, according to Hunt. These facilities include libraries, childcare, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation.

Hunt, all three county commissioners, Tony Anderson, Jack DeWeese, and Bob Peterson, County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Beathard, Juvenile Court Judge Nancy Hammond, State Rep. John Schlichter, and Fayette County Building Department Director Franco Palma, were all present Monday for the check presentation in front of the courthouse.

The commissioners thanked the Hunt for the funding assistance.

“We’ve worked with Fayette County leadership on other projects that improved community services and this new collaboration helps strengthen our partnership,” Hunt said. “I give a lot of credit to the leadership of Fayette County. They’ve done an outstanding job of accessing resources to address their needs.”

The courthouse over the years has undergone significant changes without respect to the architectural and historical significance of the structure, according to county officials. It is a structure with substandard and deteriorating mechanical systems such as electric, plumbing, and HVAC which impairs safety, efficiency, ADA compliance and with much wasted energy.

The following is the list of improvements to be completed on the courthouse: roof restoration, HVAC system updates, electrical system upgrades, window replacement, restoration of exterior limestone stairs, restoration of stair support structure, and plumbing system upgrades.

The total estimated construction costs are $1,863,562, according to county officials. The renovation process is expected to take approximately one year to complete.

The USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents, according to Hunt. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.