The County Press

Bid awarded to reroof historic courthouse tower


The roof of the historic courthouse tower in downtown Lapeer will be replaced by lead-lined copper plates that are expected to last 100 years. Photo by Jeff Hogan

The roof of the historic courthouse tower in downtown Lapeer will be replaced by lead-lined copper plates that are expected to last 100 years. Photo by Jeff Hogan

LAPEER — The historic county courthouse in downtown Lapeer is set to get a little love, at the tune of $119,650.

The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners approved on Thursday to award a bid to reroof the historic courthouse tower to Lake Orionbased Royal Roofing Company, who will undertake the project next spring. The cost of the project will be paid from the Courthouse Restoration Fund and allocated Capital Improvement Fund and was originally approved by the Commission’s Properties Committee on Nov. 8.

The roof will be replaced by lead-lined copper plates that are expected to last 100 years, said Lapeer County Buildings and Grounds Director Joe Stock. “We’re thinking what’s up there now is likely 100 years old,” he said.

In addition to the plates, Stock said some woodwork will need to be redone as well to accommodate the new roofing, but the bulk of the cost is through the complicated positioning of the project. “The main cost is getting up there to work 80 to 90 feet up there,” he said.

In September, a fundraiser was held to help offset the cost of the project, raising a little over $7,000.

— Nicholas Pugliese