By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission approved a bid Tuesday to replace the Law Enforcement Center roof after it was damaged in a hail storm almost two years ago.
County Administrator Darin Myers told the county commission on Tuesday the first time the county sent the project for bids, the bids all came in significantly over the estimates.
County staff has worked with Roofmasters of Hays, who worked with a consultant, to determine a proper replacement.
Roofmasters owner Luke Haines told the commission the company did the current roof about 22 years ago.
Haines said the roof is fastened to the concrete deck with screws and a plate. He said the company would use new technology during the replacement.
The company would remove the roof, use insulation that is stuck down with adhesive and then there would be a cover board to which the new thermoplastic polyolefin roofing would be attached.
“There's a ton of ductwork. That's probably one of the bigger challenges on the roof is just having to work around all that,” Haines said.
Haines said because the previous roof was not attached to a cover board, the insulation was damaged by the hailstorm.
“So technically, what you have is a roof that's not adhered,” Haines said. “Fortunately, this is kind of in the middle of town, but if this was on the edge of town or if this was in an area where we were more susceptible to wind, it could blow off.”
Haines said the build-up of the insulation varies from two inches thick to up to 14 inches in some places.
Haines said the process to remove the current insulation to get back to the concrete deck will be a “messy,” and slow process.
The roof was able to last 20 years, which matches the 20-year warranty that will be included on the new roof system, Haines said.
Ellis County Commissioner Michael Berges said he is concerned a lot of the ductwork will still be exposed to the elements.
Haines said there is as much square footage of ductwork as there is roof.
Myers said they have talked about that issue. Haines said the cheapest idea was to use SPF spray foam to encapsulate the ductwork, but he did not have a final price. The roof will need to be finished first.
Myers said the insurance company allowed the county $247,300 to re-deck the roof.
The county’s total insurance claim from the storm was almost $500,000.
The bid to replace the roof from Roofmasters was $330,000, and the county will be left with $78,000 to cover the difference.
The county has $460,000 remaining in a sales tax fund that was created to help pay for work on the courthouse, law enforcement center and Emergency Services Building.
Myers said that funding has been sitting idle for several years.
Myers said other projects also will use money from that sales tax fund.
Haines said he thinks his company can start work in the next couple of months, weather permitting.
The commission also approved a five year plan for solid waste management, approved a waterline easement for Trego Rural Water for the land purchased for the new public works facility north of Hays and received updates from Grow Hays and the Ellis County Childcare Task Force.
Editor's note: A correction was made to correct the spelling of Roofmaster's owner Luke Haines.