The Marion County Board has approved the start of emergency repairs to locate and correct the source of a sewer gas odor in the Public Service Building.
The smell had gone away following earlier repairs, but the Director of Administrative Court Services Renee Pride told the county board Tuesday night it is back.
“Once they fixed the pump it was coming up through the center wall and into the offices. Now that they fixed the pump it is pushing it out into where the public sits. You can in the morning walk in our building and the first thing you smell when you walk in the door is sewer.”
Building Committee Chair Dr. Creighton Engel says the next step will be to get into the piping in the walls of the two bathrooms to try and find what is causing the smell. The board agreed to use Tate Plumbing that has done previous work to do the project. A masonry and painting contractor will also have to be employed to put the wall back. The board can spend up to $10,000 for an emergency before further board action is needed.
The board also agreed to paint the public areas on all three floors of the courthouse, expanding the project beyond the third floor since all the scaffolding will already be in place. Bids are currently being sought for the work.
In other action, the board approved a new six year appointment for County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick.
