Repairs, renovations under way in Bogalusa city clerk's office following last week's fire damage

Repairs and, as it turns out, renovations, are being made to the Bogalusa City Clerk's office following a fire that broke out in a power strip last Friday.

Ken Williams (from left) of Sheridan
Construction, Public Works Director James
Hall and Deputy Criminal Clerk Nikki Boone
review work under way in the City Clerk's
office necessitated by a fire last Friday.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Workers for Sheridan Construction began knocking out walls, removing ceiling tiles and tearing up carpet on Tuesday and were back on the job early Wednesday with a load of sheet rock, framing lumber and other supplies.

"While we're making the repairs, we decided to go ahead and renovate," Bogalusa Public Works Director James Hall told wpnewsblog.

As a result, the cubbyhole-type office where the fire started no longer exists, as one wall was removed to make it a part of the bigger office it adjoined.

"We're adding outlets to make sure we have sufficient power sources," Hall said after asking Deputy Criminal Clerk Nikki Boone how many outlets were needed.

After explaining what outlets are needed, and saying that "we had power strips plugged into power strips," Boone showed Hall where the outlets needed to be with a "there, there and there" as she pointed to spots.

In addition, one door will be permanently closed to eliminate the possibility of foot traffic — wanted or otherwise — and all lights will be placed on single switches by each of the two doors that will be available for use.

Ken Williams of Sheridan Construction said he expected the project to take "a couple of weeks."

"That works out well for us," Boone said. "We had court the Monday after the fire and we were able to deal with it, but we don't have court again until after the Fourth."

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)
(Reader news tip story)