By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – The restroom renovation in the basement of the Wabash County Courthouse is nearing completion. The Board of Commissioners awarded Silver Lake-based DT Construction the renovation contract at the board’s September 21st meeting, and work began on both the mens and ladies room in the fall. The renovation was delayed because of the discovery of asbestos and the removal of such by Huntertown-based Environmental Management Specialists. Large pipes in the mens room were also removed, in addition to a corridor wall in the ladies room. The result in each is a much greater sense of space. When DT Construction was awarded the bid last September, the completion date was projected to be in November. But the asbestos and pipe removal pushed the project back and both bathrooms have only been opened for the last week.
County HR Director Jim Dils took MiBash News on a tour of both facilities Wednesday. The bathroom floors have been completely redone, as well as the dividers to the stalls finished in what could only be described as a royal blue. Lights in each are now motion sensor activated which, of course, cuts down on energy costs. A new vanity was installed in the ladies room and both have new sinks.
The work shut down the bathrooms for approximately five weeks. Because there are two small bathrooms on the second floor courthouse for those who work on the building to use, Dils said that if anyone was inconvenienced due to the shut down it was members of the public. But, he added, this time of the year doesn’t see a lot of foot traffic from anyone other than county employees who work there.
The restrooms were already ADA-compliant and all the new work complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well. There are some finishing touches yet to be accomplished like ADA-compliant signs and a light to the entrance of the ladies room. Dils seemed please with the result of the renovation, saying that it had made a big difference compared to what was there before.