The Pulaski County Courthouse elevator is a step closer to getting replaced. Bids from three construction companies were opened during last week’s county commissioners meeting. They ranged from $489,000 to over $594,000. The bids will now be reviewed by Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston, County Attorney Kevin Tankersley, and representatives from Keystone Architecture, before the commissioners make a decision.
Construction had to be delayed until March, after no contractors bid on the project on its original timeline. The elevator replacement is part of a larger effort to make the courthouse compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit over a lack of accessibility.
That legal battle appears to be wrapping up, though. In a notice that recently appeared in the Pulaski County Journal, ACLU Attorney Kenneth J. Falk said he’s satisfied with the county’s efforts to resolve the issue.
He said the two sides have reached a potential settlement, in which Pulaski County would agree to have a fully-compliant elevator installed by the end of September. The county would also pay $12,000 in attorney’s fees and costs. Falk noted that the county has already constructed two ADA-compliant restrooms since the case was filed.
But he notes that since it’s a class action case, anyone with mobility impairments or other physical disabilities who plans to access the Pulaski County Courthouse has a right to comment on the proposed settlement. Federal Judge Jon E. DeGuilio is scheduled to review the comments in U.S. District Court in South Bend on March 15.
