General maintenance and improvements to the Jackson County Courthouse could be costly, according to county board members who were recently received a $408,791 estimate for roofing and elevator repairs.

"These are things that are being mandated by the state," said Gerald Compton, county board member. "They did these studies on us to bring everything up to standard. They came down here and indicated that there were (problems). They had a checklist of the things that we were supposedly wrong with them (the elevators)."

Compton said the jail elevator and courthouse elevator were under scrutiny for a number of problems, although he couldn't cite specific examples.

"There have been some questions raised about whether it was necessary to do all of that," Compton said. "Lobbying groups have a substantial influence when it comes to things of this sort. I think we need to go a little bit slowly because as things stand right now, the elevators are operating and they seem to be serving us reasonably well."

Compton said the estimate for more than $400,000 included needed work to the courthouse roof. The project amount for just the elevators would be about half.

"Those (roof improvements) are going to have to be done," he said. "We have leaks in courtrooms and leaks in our judge's offices. Those have to be taken care of. We knew that we'd have to have that done."

County board member John Rendleman said the repairs are maintenance type work that needs to be done now to prevent more expensive work later. He said the roofing and elevator matters do not present any danger to county employees or courthouse visitors.

"It's a leaky roof and it is in need of some repair," he said. "It has dripped through in some of the courtrooms and in some offices."

Rendleman said engineers have informed the county board that the leaky roof has saturated insulating between the exterior and the ceiling.

"Although it isn't, right now, endangering anyone's health or safety, it is not going to get any better," he said. "It will only deteriorate and get more expensive, for example, if it were allowed to go on for another two or four years."

Rendleman said county engineers have surveyed a number of buildings and pointed out potential problems. They are currently working up bid specifications for elevator and roofing needs, pending board approval.

Rendleman said he didn't anticipate any work being done on the courthouse until the summer.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com/618-351-5824