(KMZA)--The Brown County Commission has approved additional repairs to the courthouse elevator, which has been out of service since late November.

In a special meeting last Friday, the commission discussed needed repairs to finish replacement of the elevator jack with representatives of MEI-Total Elevator Solutions and ADCO Drilling, who joined the meeting by phone conference.

It was explained that the hole for the jack is collapsing. A new hole will have to be drilled and a larger casing put in order to install the jack.

MEI will need one mechanic to assist the driller while they are on site. The work, which is to begin February 23, is expected to take 6 to 9 days.

Following discussion, the Commission voted to declare an emergency exist and to accept a quote from ADCO to re-drill the hole in the amount of $62,266. That will allow the commission to bypass the standard required bid letting process so the repair can be completed without delay.

The commission then approved a work order from MEI for $23,760, and authorizing one Saturday of overtime pay at a rate of $518 an hour, if necessary.

MEI was awarded a more than $100,000 contract last year for modernization of the elevator, which was installed in 1980. The company began work on the project November 29.

In December, commissioners were told the elevator jack, which wasn't part of the project, would need to be replaced at a cost of more than $88,000.

Commissioners are seeking approval from the Loyd Group to utilize ARPA funding for the entire modernization, drilling and elevator repair project.