Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX—Work continues this week on Whitman County jail sewer lines, fixtures and electrical, along with roofing improvements at the courthouse, marking $2,084,097 in projects.
At the jail, a crew from McKinstry Co. of Spokane has begun to install a new sewer line from the first and second floor to the street, followed by putting in new stainless steel sinks, faucets and toilets in inmate areas. Also replacing copper and iron pipes behind the walls as needed.
“We’ve had leaks from (behind the walls) into the evidence room,” said Brandy Dean, Whitman County facilities management director.
Crews worked in individual cells while inmates were moved around in the partially-full jail.
In addition, a new “Muffin Monster” grinder is being installed in the basement of the 1984 jail. The machine breaks up items flushed into the sewer system that should not be there – such as long underwear and plastic bags – so it does not plug up the building’s main sewer line or pipes at the sewer plant.
“I requested (the projects), because they need to be done,” said Dean. “We made a list of priorities. I requested these (courthouse roof and jail) to be put at the top of the list. The jail really has needed work for a long time.”
Last April, long underwear flushed down the toilet at the jail plugged the sump pit, causing the sewer to back up into the basement.
“(Inmates) flush anything and everything they can down the toilets,” said Dean.
The jail work, which crews started three weeks ago, is expected to be complete at the end of October.
On the 1955 courthouse roof, which workers began anew on in late August, the crew from Tremco, based in Beachwood, Ohio, are taking off old, water-damaged surfacing, to stop the leaking which has plagued the inside of the courthouse, even leading to an office re-location.
“It’s not a complete tear-off, it’s a partial tear-off,” said Dean.
Roof workers ceased operations Monday due to smoke from the wildfires.
Inside the courthouse, 10 3X3’ skylights are being removed in the second floor of the two-story climate-controlled vault area at the building’s north end, to further seal it off from leaks.
The projects came about after McInstry solicited an energy audit last year, which ultimately led to county commissioners approving the projects June 1.
No evidence was effected by the leaks into the evidence room.
“Everything’s going great. It’s exciting to get some work done, especially in the jail. It will save us a lot of maintenance,” Dean said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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