County courthouse slated for completion

Published 9:57 am Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Completion of the new $13.9 million Charlotte County Courthouse is nearing, with an estimated move in date of July 2-3, according to Skanska’s Project Manager Tim Burge.

“The move to the new courthouse is scheduled for July 2 and July 3,” said Burge at a June meeting of the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors. “We should be wrapping up in the next few weeks.”

He said the outside of the new structure has progressed well and the inside is down to punch list items. “The month of May was a good month for construction at the courthouse,” said Burge.

He said Blair Construction has continued regular maintenance on the site and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, the fire alarm, wheelchair lift and elevators have all passed inspection.

Burge said currently, miscellaneous items are being done such as finishing up light poles.

“Access to the clerk’s office has been installed,” he said.

Additionally, the connector woodworking, connecting the existing clerk’s office to the new courthouse, has been completed.

Glass has also been installed in the building along with the completion of roofing.

Burge said the project has a substantial completion date of June.

“The architect has to come back and punch the exterior and the site and the doors, and then he can just use the punch list at that time, the final punch list,” he said, referring to items not conforming to contract specifications that must be completed.

The furniture was set to be delivered to the new building June 18.

An official dedication ceremony for the new courthouse has been set for Sept. 23 from 4-6 p.m.

Red House Cullen Supervisor and Planning Committee Chair Nancy Carwile previously said there were talks of having the event in June, however, more time was needed. “The county appointed a committee of one person from each district to advise the Supervisors on the planning, and the committee wanted to have more time for completion of the Courthouse before the dedication,” said Carwile previously. “Early fall was chosen to avoid hot weather and summer vacations, and to find a date convenient for more people to attend. The Supervisors appointed a good committee and their advice and planning went very well.”

Additional information regarding the dedication ceremony will be released at a later date.