By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There are the big pieces of a project, but sometimes the small things can be just as important. Barton County officials have announced the courthouse should be back in business as of May 20 following the completion of the HVAC Renovation Project. At Tuesday's commission meeting, County Administrator Matt Patzner proposed the purchase of new blinds for the many windows in the building.
"The blinds, which will provide a cohesive look throughout the building, will provide for better light and heat control," he said. "The total cost for the blinds purchased through Brentwood Builders is $59,718.18. Lead time for the purchase is four weeks with installation taking another two weeks."
The bid was submitted on Monday, and the item was placed on Tuesday's agenda to expedite the process. Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said it's unfortunate the new blinds will not be in place when the courthouse reopens.
"They did their due diligence to make sure we were getting the best price possible," he said. "That delayed the bid a little bit not realizing the lead time would be four weeks. That's kind of how we got into that situation."
The blinds will not only bring aesthetic uniformity to all county offices, but also increase cooling efficiency and decrease eye strain for employees.