An El Dorado architect firm is interested in a remodel and expansion project for the Allen County Courthouse.
Chief District Judge Dan Creitz presented commissioners with a proposal from Gravity Works, an architecture firm, to design a plan that would create a second courtroom and related offices.
The county hired Crossland Construction of Columbus in January to lead the project, which would include ushering voters through a bond election. The cost isn’t yet known, but preliminary estimates indicate it could exceed $5 million. If the bond issue fails, Crossland would not collect a fee.
An election is tentatively planned for spring 2024.
Creitz said he asked five architectural firms to submit proposals but Gravity Works is the only firm that did so. The company seems very interested in the project, he said. Representatives toured the Allen County facility prior to submitting a proposal.
The company has been in operation for 70 years and constructed a similar project at the El Dorado courthouse, Creitz said. They have worked with Crossland before.
A committee will review the proposal and report back to commissioners. 
Pinwheel planting
Commissioners, department leaders and others took a brief break from Tuesday’s commission meeting to plant pinwheels in front of the courthouse in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
They joined representatives of Hope Unlimited, the Kansas Children’s Service League, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Department of Children and Families.
Airport improvements
Allen County has received a total of $4,302,727 in grants to improve Allen County Regional Airport over the past two years.
Public Works Director Mitch Garner submitted a list of recent projects with a comparison of grant funding plus the county’s contribution.
In 2022, the county received grants for an airport layout plan and to rehabilitate the runway pavement.
In 2023, grants will replace runway lights and other equipment, rehabilitate the taxiway pavement and replace the Automated Weather Observing Station (AWOS).
The total cost of those projects is $1,902,727. Of that, the FAA provided $924,953 in funding. The Kansas Department of Transportation paid $787,500. That left the county’s portion at just $190,274.
