PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have approved a change order to complete upgrades to the floral barn at the county fairgrounds.
Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to approve the $7,839 change order with Aldergrove Construction of Port Angeles, bringing the total cost of the structural improvements to $162,497.
The difference will be covered by real estate excise taxes, officials said.
County Parks, Fair and Facilities Director Joel Winborn has said the 1922 floral barn is the oldest remaining structure at the Clallam County Fairgrounds.
Officials determined that it would be far less costly to shore up the existing building than it would be to rebuild.
Winborn told commissioners last week that the building’s age contributed to the change order.
While the upgrades won’t be finished in time for this year’s county fair, which begins Thursday, Winborn assured commissioners Tuesday that the building is safe.
In other facility news, commissioners Tuesday rejected a bid for an antenna grounding project at the Clallam County Courthouse.
“We only received one bid, and that one bid was far in excess of our budget,” Winborn told commissioners.
“We do have an alternative plan this year to bring the budget down to where we can actually make it happen before the end of the year. So we hope to have it out for a rebid within the next few weeks.”
The lone bid that commissioners opened in May was $325,763. The estimate was $170,000, a $155,763 difference.
The grounding project will replace a main antenna and antenna wiring that are vital to the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center in the courthouse basement.
“This is an important project,” Winborn said.
“We hope to get it done before the end of the year.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@ peninsuladailynews.com.
