Committee orders Door 2 closed after courthouse corbel crumbles; structural evaluation planned

Buildings & Grounds Director Lindsey Kennedy reported that a limestone corbel above Door 2 at the Oneida County Courthouse had crumbled and the adjacent corbel was cracked; she provided photographs of the damage. The committee "expressed serious concern regarding the safety risk and directed that Door 2 be closed until repairs are completed," and instructed Kennedy to engage a structural engineer to determine the root cause and to install temporary bracing to prevent further damage.

Committee members emphasized that simple patching would not address what staff described as likely water infiltration causing the deterioration. The committee requested a full evaluation of all corbels on the courthouse’s historic section and asked Buildings & Grounds to coordinate implementation of temporary bracing and a structural assessment. Kennedy said she is in the process of submitting the project to the Wisconsin Historical Society and did not anticipate the historic designation would prevent urgent safety work given the immediate risk.

The committee listed 'Courthouse Exterior Repairs' as an item for the next agenda and asked staff to provide an update at the next meeting.