T-R PHOTO BY TREVOR BABCOCK Marshall County Buildings and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke broke down the liquidated damages included in a new contract between the county and First Onsite during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The company is the general contractor for the courthouse renovation project, which has experienced numerous setbacks and delays.

The Marshall County Courthouse project is without a general contractor after an updated contract requiring the company to pay damages was declined.

With First Onsite out, the return of county offices to the historic building, ravaged by the 2018 tornado, is once again delayed.

Nan Benson, county auditor, said the county is working to secure other contractors with hopes of having something on the Tuesday board of supervisors’ agenda.

The goal of moving into the courthouse by Dec. 31 is no longer feasible, she said.

“I don’t think Dec. 31 has been a good deadline for a while,” she said. “I am hoping it will be February or March.”

First Onsite, who ended work on Friday after declining an updated contract requiring payments for liquidated damages, still intends to ensure a smooth transition, Benson said.

Marshall County Buildings and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke said liquidated damages represent what it costs the county each day for the courthouse renovation to continue. It would help with the expenses incurred due to the failure of the contractor to meet deadlines or damages caused.

During a July 9 board of supervisors meeting, the county determined the contractor should be responsible for $3,000 in liquidated damages per day. The $3,000 estimate was determined as a daily cost, which included rent in other locations, time spent and labor. With the delays that have plagued the project, the county has even started to incur rent for furniture storage space.

“That, plus the project manager had some health issues and was not going to return, were the final nails in the coffin,” Benson said.

Benson stressed work will be ongoing inside the courthouse during the transition between general contractors. The subcontractors working on the project will continue their duties.

“We talked to all of them and everyone is staying on,” Benson said. “They were here the next day and will still be here. Everyone is very supportive.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.