Historic building due for repair

The most severely damaged parish-owned building in Lafourche remains vacant, but renovations for the historic courthouse in downtown Thibodaux are set to begin in coming months.

After five years, Parish President Charlotte Randolph said renovation to the three courtrooms and offices will bring it up to standards.

“The ceiling tile has been missing in one of the courtrooms for years,” she said. “The parish started working on fixing the courthouse five years ago with the roof and changing the air conditioning system. But, somewhere along the lines we slacked off.”

In early October, the 148-year-old courthouse was closed because of a mold-like substance that was discovered in the building shortly after hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant said the infestation caused serious health concerns for those who occupy the building – District Judges Walter Lanier, John LeBlanc and Hugh “Buddy” Larose and their staff.

Mother Ducts Environmental of Metairie was hired to gut the building and remove the mold. Brennan Matherne, the parish’s park, recreation and public facilities director, said the project cost more than $324,000.

After the mold was removed, the parish government hired Thibodaux architect Richard Weimer to formulate a design to replace the gutted walls.

Though Weimer continues to work on the repairs, the judges were able to move back into the building in mid-December after sharing courtrooms with District Judges Bruce Simpson and Jerome Barbera at the Courthouse Annex for months.

Matherne suggested that the parish government think about renovating the other wear and tear to the building while Weimer finishes the storm damage repairs. According to Judge LeBlanc, the courtroom has not been renovated in nearly 20 years.

“I’ve been in the building for 10 years,” LeBlanc said. “It needs a lot of work on it, in addition to the damages the storm caused.”

Judges LeBlanc and Lanier will have their carpet and a few ceiling tiles replaced. The majority of the repairs will be to the upstairs courtroom occupied by Judge Larose.

Parish President Randolph said the new repairs should give the parish another 10 years before more improvements are needed.

“It’s an old building so it requires special maintenance,” she said. “The parish has finally reached a point to where the judges will be able to feel comfortable about operating professionally out of that building.”

The parish went out for public bids on $150,000 worth of repairs last week. The sealed bids will be opened on April 8. The judges are hopeful that work will begin on the courthouse in mid-May.

In the central part of the parish, the council held a special meeting a couple of weeks ago to discuss the Barrios Building in Raceland, which used to house the council chambers, Department of Public Works and other parish governmental agencies.

Randolph said the special meeting was called to meet a FEMA deadline to ensure reimbursement.

The former government building was inundated with several feet of water after Hurricane Gustav’s winds ripped off a portion of the roof near the council chambers.

Presently, the parish government has moved its operation to the old Wal-Mart building in Mathews.

However, the big question is whether the parish government will stay in the old Wal-Mart or repair the Barrios Building,

Randolph said the administration has not made a decision about the future use of either parish building.

“There are so many variables that we have to consider,” Randolph said. “The administration is assembling all the information to present to the council. We will either make a recommendation or put all the information on the table for discussion prior to a council vote.”

Acquiring the Wal-Mart building depends solely on how much it will cost the parish to repair the Barrios Building versus how much it will cost to bring the old Wal-Mart up to standards.

“It’s like comparing apples to oranges,” said council chair Jerry Jones.

The council approved hiring Duplantis Design Group, at a cost of $20,800, to provide estimates for the Barrios repairs.

“This is the first step to finding out if it is cost-effective for us to repair the building or whether it makes sense to purchase the old Wal-Mart that now houses the council chambers and all the departments that were in the Barrios Building,” Jones said.