A local architecture firm will review the current state of the Douglas County Courthouse and develop a preservation plan for the 100-year-old structure.

Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday night meeting authorized County Administrator Craig Weinaug to negotiate and execute a $48,480 contract with Treanor Architects. DGM Consultants will work with Treanor as a subcontractor.

Commissioners made their decision after discussing the cost of the study and asking staff members whether the fee was considered reasonable.

“If it was my house, I would spend the $48,000,” said Commissioner Jere McElhaney. “But it’s not my house. It’s the public’s house.”

Much of the concerns commissioners had related to what the actual renovation costs may be for the courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Weinaug said it was difficult for consultants interested in creating the preservation plan to estimate possible renovation costs until some preliminary work had been completed.

“It was extremely broad,” Weinaug said. “We had several scenarios and a cost couldn’t be nailed down. That’s why it’s taken so long to get back to you on this.”

The contract with Treanor will include developing a preservation plan for stonework and preparing grant applications for possible future renovations, said county purchasing agent Jackie Waggoner.

About two years ago, the county spent $60,000 cleaning the building’s stone exterior and painting the window frames. A $159,999 fire-sprinkler system was installed in 2002.