During a recent government meeting, officials highlighted urgent structural concerns regarding a deteriorating porch, which has been identified as the top priority for repairs. The assessment revealed significant damage, including a visible lean and severe deterioration of the supporting columns, raising alarms about potential safety risks, including the possibility of collapse.

The meeting detailed a bid of $173,900 received on August 5 for the necessary repairs, which includes several alternate options for consideration. Among these, the first alternate proposes applying a liquid resin membrane over the existing copper roof. However, this approach does not align with the Secretary of Interior Standards for the treatment of historic properties, which prioritize the use of original materials. Accepting this alternate would reduce the total bid to $159,805.

Another alternate option involves replacing deteriorating wood columns with synthetic materials, which is also discouraged under the same preservation standards. This change would save $6,500, but officials recommend maintaining the use of wood columns to adhere to preservation guidelines.

Additional alternates related to a railing system were deemed unnecessary, as they do not meet code requirements. The urgency of these repairs is underscored by the fact that $100,000 in funding from the BCHRLF is set to expire in December, prompting officials to act swiftly to secure the necessary resources for the project.