Price tag increases on Hamilton monument fix

Instead of spending $13K for patching, dome will be replaced for $72K.

The Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers monument in downtown Hamilton is getting a new copper dome, a contingency not originally contemplated in the $361,000 restoration project.

WATCH: A look inside the 112-year-old monument

Commissioners awarded NR Lee Restoration a $360,900 contract last year for restoration of the monument that houses historic artifacts and war records. Community Development Manager Desmond Maaytah said $13,000 was originally budgeted to shore up and shine the dome on the 112-year-old monument, but when work started, commissioners decided to spend $72,000 for a new covering.

“Once we got into it, the copper was too thin in places, and they didn’t feel like we would get a good life span out of repairing it,” Maaytah said, adding the new dome should last 100 years.

MORE: What $360K pays for in monument repairs

Commissioner Don Dixon said while they never want to spend more money than they have to, this is the right move.

“When you run into a situation like that, there’s only a few people that can do it and do it right and you have to rely on the fact that what these people are telling is the truth,” he said. “I believe it’s accurate, it wouldn’t make any sense to go up there and spend that kind of money knowing it wouldn’t last… The fix has got to be correct. So it seems like a lot of money, but in the long run it’s the only prudent move to make.”

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