COLUMBIANA COUNTY Clerk of courts office recovers from rain leak

The leakage highlights a continuing problem with the courthouse roof, a commissioner said.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Normal operations were expected to resume today at the Columbiana County Clerk of Courts office, which was soaked by leaks during heavy rain.
Wearing casual clothes, staff members pitched in Tuesday to help dry out the office, on the top floor of the three-story county courthouse.
The office was closed for the cleanup, during which a carpet company removed about an inch of water from the floor.
What happened
Commissioners Gary Williams and Jim Hoppel explained that downpours Monday and early Tuesday overwhelmed drains atop the flat roof, and water gushed into the clerk's office.
At least two computers and a postage machine were ruined, Williams said.
Some court documents got wet, but it's unclear if they were ruined.
Water also flooded the basement of the 1872 building, Williams said.
With streets and sidewalks around the building flooded, some water poured down exterior stairwells to the basement, Williams added.
The basement had no significant water damage.
Employees in basement offices, which include those for the sheriff, auditor and adult probation departments, were running fans to help dry saturated floors.
Williams and Hoppel said it's too early to estimate the damage.
Hoppel said the roof has leaked for years.
Thousands of dollars have been spent on improvements, but the roof still occasionally leaks.
A new roof is part of a $2.7 million proposal to improve the courthouse.
County common pleas judges want to remodel the second-floor courtrooms, but they insist on a new roof first.
Leaks sometimes seep down to the second floor, though that did not appear to happen this week.
The judges are proposing that the troublesome flat roof be replaced with a gabled structure.
County officials are awaiting approval of a federal loan.