Northampton County Council voted 8-0 at its March 17 meeting to spend $101,240 with Timothy Haahs and Associates for architectural and engineering services at the courthouse parking deck. Cost of the actual renovations, once the work starts, is unknown.

Northampton County’s parking deck, first built in 1975, is already well beyond its projected 30-40 year lifespan. In 2008, former Executive John Stoffa proposed a new parking facility, but scrapped that idea in favor of renovations when bids for a facelift came in lower than expected.

Unfortunately, in 2010, a $1.7 million project grew by $500,000 when an engineer claimed there were “unforeseen circumstances.” The garage never was properly renovated, and in 2012, the county sued Cleveland-based RAM Construction over defects like cracking, misaligned joints and defective overhead patches. RAM blamed Pennoni Engineering, which designed the project.

That matter was settled in 2014.

In the meantime, water has been leaking onto cars, depositing a salt that is difficult to remove. Pieces of falling concrete have also damaged several cars, and the county has been forced to pay property damages.

It is unknown what the actual costs of renovations will be, but Ken Kraft estimated it will be “millions.”

In other business, council agreed in a 7-1 vote to pay $1.3 million to Construction Masters Services for repairs to three county-owned bridges. Bridge Superintendent Tom Kohler and Public Works Director Stanley Rugis strongly recommended the company, a Sinking Springs firm, from several contractors who submitted proposals.

Ken Kraft, who voted against, worried that the bids were artificially low and that the county will be subjected to change orders.

Finally, council voted 7-1 to select three outside legal firms for labor negotiations. Council President John Cusick was the sole no vote. He object to the $325 and $375 hourly rate charged by Philadelphia from Ballard Spahr, while local firms are charging only $190. But county solicitor Ryan Durkin defended the expense, observing that Ballard Spahr has saved the county “millions” in arbitration costs.

Council did receive a visit from former Wilson Borough Mayor Kenn Dunn, who is now a resident of Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home. “Gracedale saved my life!” he told council.

Peg Ferraro served as Mayor Dunn’s chauffeur and thus was unable to participate in the voting.