A rotting wooden beam in the attic of the Douglas County Courthouse has county leaders taking a fast track to get it repaired.

The beam is no longer carrying the weight it should, County Administrator Craig Weinaug told county commissioners Wednesday night. The beam’s condition was discovered a few days ago, he said. Solutions are being discussed.

“It’s been there a long time. There’s no question it (repairs) has to be done,” Weinaug said.

There is no imminent threat of a collapse or danger to people in the courthouse, but a severe storm like the 2006 microburst could cause major problems, Weinaug said. Workers currently restoring the stonework on the outside of the courthouse are unable to put the equipment they need on the roof to proceed with those repairs, he said.

Commissioner Jere McElhaney met with contractors and restoration consultant Don McMican on Wednesday to discuss repairs. Commissioners Bob Johnson and Charles Jones agreed to have McElhaney continue to work with contractors on the repairs and negotiate a price for making them.

There is no time to go through the county’s normal bidding process, which would cause an expensive delay in the stonework project, Weinaug said. Commissioners will publicly approve a repair contract when it is negotiated.

Weinaug and McElhaney said the damage to the beam has taken place over a lengthy time period, caused by leaking around the sunroof dormer above the stained glass in the courthouse rotunda.

“We’ve been very lucky. There is significant rotting,” McElhaney said.

Although significant, the rotting beam is not obvious without close inspection, McElhaney and Weinaug said. The courthouse was built from 1903 to 1905.

In other business:

¢ Commissioners agreed to send a letter to Lawrence Mayor Mike Dever suggesting that city and county commissions meet to discuss a study of the 31st Street corridor. The city already has a contractor to study the extension of the street from Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road. The county is interested in an extension to Douglas Country Road 1057. The county is willing to pay a disproportionate sum with respect to the study.

¢ Commissioners accepted a low bid from Scotwood Industries for supply and application of 32 percent magnesium chloride for the dust palliative program. The bid is for .749 cents per gallon.

¢ Commissioners accepted a low bid from Vance Brothers Inc. for sealing 45 miles of county roads this year. The bid was for $725,756.

¢ Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Lawrence concerning financing and improvement of properties in the East Hills Business Park.