County will seek grant money to assist with preservation of County Jail facade

County officials determined more than a year ago that the Medina sandstone facade of the County Jail, the portion that was once the Sheriff's Office and currently is home to Genesee Justice, needs some restoration work.

More than $100,000 was set aside for the work but when the contract went out to bid, there was only one response it was for much more than $100,000.  

Recently, it went out to bid again and the best bid came from a company in Yonkers for $399,923.

At the suggestion of Legislator Bob Bausch yesterday, the Ways and Means Committee voted to table the resolution to award the contract.

Bausch suggested the county wait and see if the county can win a grant to help pay for the restoration of the facade.

It turns out, the building received a historical designation in 1980 that might help in the grant process.

County Manager Jay Gsell said the county won't be able to apply for the potential grant until summer and perhaps it will be awarded by late summer.

There is $131,730 in the budget for the work facade work.

One reason the cost has gone up is the contractors who do such work are much busier these days, which drives up their fees.

The facade, it also turns out, is in much worse shape than originally assessed. There are bricks falling off the building; the front steps are bowing; there is water that is getting behind parts of the facade.

At the Public Service meeting Tuesday, Bausch said he was shocked at how bad the building was when he toured it last year and acknowledged it will take a bit of money to preserve it.

"The other option, I suppose, is I'd like to just tear the whole thing down," Bausch said.

Legislator Gregg Torrey interjected, "It's hard to put money into that building."

Then Bausch added, "I’m sure we would have a few people with the historical societies who would not be happy with that."