Window repair work allowed to continue

RITZVILLE – Work begun earlier this month on a window at the Ritzville Public Library was halted last week when a resident protested the repairs being done.

In an email to the former director of the East Adams Library District, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the county building inspector and others, Ritzville resident Tracy Tremaine of Tremaine Builders asked several questions about the work being done on the southwest facade of the building; including if there was a permit in place.

"I would...suggest that the work to date be halted and secure the opening in the wall until a path forward for true restoration can be formulated," Tremaine said in his Sept. 2 email, adding he would be willing to store any materials removed from the library. City Clerk Treasurer Julie Flyckt said Tremaine worked on the building in the past.

Wolf Creek Contracting out of Harrington is doing the current repair work. "It was just one single window. My understanding is they just got the cart before the horse," said Adams County Building Inspector Andie Lorenz. "Once the city was notified, they notified him to stop work until they got the permit to do the work. By doing that, he has to go through the steps with the historical building society."

"It's all been approved through the planning commission, and Andie's approved it for windows, so they're all ready to proceed as of today," Flyckt said Friday, Sept. 11, adding repair work done on the window previously wasn't sealed properly, which led to water damage. "It's a significant repair, but everything met the historic standards."

Flyckt said with the library being on the national registry of historic places, people "get very passionate" about the building and any work being done on it.