The Buena Vista County Courthouse is getting a major restoration this fall — after a bidding process that took some unexpected turns.
The county board of supervisors voted Tuesday morning to award the $125,000 restoration contract to McGill Restoration, an Omaha‑based concrete and masonry repair company. Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Joe Keller told supervisors he’s been working on the project since last September, and getting to a final bid took months of back and forth.
Keller said McGill’s first estimate came in at $113,500, but the second jumped significantly to $146,000.
Keller said once he clarified the scope, the contractor raised the price — and Keller wasn’t convinced the higher number would work.
The county heard from a few other contractors, but Keller said those leads fell apart and no other bids were submitted.
Ultimately, McGill submitted a final bid of $125,000 — $26,000 lower than the company’s second estimate but $11,500 higher than the first.
A major factor in the price increase was the need to redo all the courthouse’s mortar joints, which Keller said are more than five decades old.
He noted McGill has handled several past restoration cycles and understands the building’s quirks — including how to avoid issues that led to a lawsuit years ago.
The project will be funded through the county’s capital loan program. Keller said he budgeted around $110,000 but planned to use remaining funds from the 2026 capital projects loan to help cover the difference.