Tuesday, February 24, 2015

AGE, QUAKES ESCALATE DAMAGE AT HARPER CO. COURTHOUSE AT MORE THAN $1.1M




FEBRUARY 24, 2015

ANTHONY, KANSAS

Age, along with the area’s frequent earthquakes, has caused more than $1.1 million in damage to Harper County’s courthouse.

An insurance adjuster with earthquake damage experience was in town about 10 days ago to assess concerns regarding the courthouse’s outside staircases, as well as to inspect cracks vining across interior walls in the southeast part of the structure, said County Clerk Cheryl Adelhardt.

Because of dilapidation due to age, county commissioners were planning to renovate the 107-year-old staircases – a project estimated at $400,000 by an engineer a year ago, said County Commissioner Carla Pence.

With a $200,000 historical tax credit helping pay half the costs, commissioners weren’t too concerned about the bill at that time, Pence said.

But as tremors continue to plague Harper County and its county seat of Anthony, county officials are able to show through photos that the damage has intensified over time. The latest estimate showed it would take $1.1 million to repair the stairs – which are thought to have worsened due to the frequent quakes.

“We think possibly some of it could be from the earthquakes,” Adelhardt said. “We have seen the splits and cracks get larger.”
Meanwhile, a ceiling crack in a courtroom – also thought to be caused by the quakes – is estimated at $35,000.

It’s the most significant damage so far in the county from the constant rumblings, which were a rare occurrence until a few years ago. However, in 2014, the county experienced more than 100 earthquakes.

Most were below 3.0 in magnitude. A few have been larger, including one in October that registered 4.3 in magnitude and cracked walls in two of the county’s Catholic churches. Another 4.9 in November damaged a bell tower at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Harper.

South-central Kansas had roughly 20 earthquakes in January, the largest 3.9 in magnitude on Jan. 19. More continued through February, with Pence noting she felt several over the weekend.

A 2.8-magnitude quake was reported 12 kilometers south of Caldwell on Monday morning.
Scientists like Rex Buchanan, interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey, believe the surge of quakes is tied to human activity from the oil and gas industry.

As earthquakes continue to shake the courthouse, Adelhardt said the adjuster did inspect the entire courthouse for damage. Most of the interior cracks were found in rooms in the southeast part of the courthouse, including a vacant room that once housed the county’s Extension Office.

The adjuster, however, has not released any reports, to date, said Adelhardt. Seismic detectors continue to measure certain cracks to see if they are getting bigger.

The county does have earthquake insurance, which has a $5,000 deductible per incident. Adelhardt said she didn’t know how that would work, since there has been more than one “incident.”

Work has begun on the staircase, which includes adding a ramp, Adelhardt said.
Pence said county officials met with Kansas Corporation Commissioner Pat Apple last week about the damage and the earthquakes.

However, Apple, while saying the agency continues to work on the problem, couldn’t offer county leaders a timetable regarding action or solutions, Pence said.

That was a little disappointing, she added.
SOURCE: http://www.kansasagland.com