June 2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

W 47 I would also like to submit the proposal for cleaning the limestone on the courthouse. I 48 had a meeting in my office with J. N. Lucas and Associates to get their opinion on how 49 the exterior stone should be cleaned. I have received a letter from them outlining 50 cleaning procedures for the courthouse stone and have distributed a copy to Historic 51 Preservation and to Mr. Ujdak. Did Mr. Talley have a chance to review the letter? 52 53 J. EDWARD TALLEY: Yes, I did review the letter and the Staff is recommending 54 no power washing on the building. 55 56 KEN HERCEG: We are asking that a 10x10 foot section facing the Tower Building, 57 that is not visible from the street, be chemically treated and power washed to see if such a 58 procedure would be successful. If the treatment turns out to be successful and no 59 damage occurs over the next year then we would like to go before the Commissioners, bu and ask if a contractor can be hired to clean the rest of the stone. 61 62 Increasing the fan spray can tremendously reduce the pressure of the water when power 63 washing. 64 65 This is our proposal, however, we are willing to do what ever the Historic Preservation 66 Commission decides. If you do not want us to touch the stone, the stone will be left as is. 67 68 JOHN OXIAN: In my opinion I think that any type of cleaning is just an attempt to 69 make the building look new. I would rather see the money for cleaning be used for tuck - 70 pointing, to ensure that the work is done right. 71 72 KEN HERCEG: We would include tuck -pointing in the bid for cleaning the 73 building. 74 75 JOHN OXIAN: I would still rather see the money go to tuck pointing and any other 76 necessary repairs to the stone rather then wasting money on cleaning, unless there is a 77 substance currently on the stone that is damaging it. 78 79 GERALD UJDAK: I was present at a meeting with Mr. Herceg about ten days ago 80 during which time a copy of the letter from Lucas and Associates was received. The 81 letter described what type of stone was on the courthouse and how it was made. 82 Unfortunately the Commissioners of that era got taken, because it is a very poor quality 83 of limestone. It was formed in a bay or tidal flat where it was subject to thin layers of 84 soil and clay, unlike good limestone, which is formed in the ocean. Not as much was 85 known then about the formation and chemical processes that occur to make limestone, 86 thus, leading to the Commissioners being sold a bunch of junk stone. It is fairly soft and 87 doesn't fit the idea that most people have of limestone, that of it lasting for thousands of 88 years. 89 90 91 92 2