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The Worth County Courthouse, the iconic structure built in 1898 in Grant City, Mo., recently had infrastucture improvements in the cupola.

GRANT CITY, Mo. — Worth County officials are moving ahead with plans to reroof their historic courthouse.

A contract for a slate roof over the 1898 courthouse — the county’s third such structure — is near approval, said Presiding Commissioner Bill Mozingo.

“We’ve got a few little glitches in that,” which shouldn’t interfere with an anticipating signing of approval in the week ahead, Mr. Mozingo said.

The project will be done by Industrial Roofing Inc., of Pleasant Hill, Mo., for more than $147,000.

Meanwhile, officials have decided to delay action on two other courthouse projects.

“The (second-level) courtroom is on hold until we get the roof replaced,” Mr. Mozingo said.

Most significantly, the courtroom contains a historic mural done by a well-known local artist. The county hasn’t initially qualified for a Missouri Department of Natural Resources matching historic preservation grant, Mr. Mozingo said.

“We wouldn’t have any trouble coming up with the match with donors,” he said of future grant chances. “We’ve had an architect take a look at it. We have artists who can restore (the mural) in place.”

Another project the county has chosen to

postpone is a handicapped-accessible elevator. Three recent bids all came in over budget, said County Clerk Lisa Hargrave. The county is limited in its ability to fulfill the requirements of a Community Development Block Grant that might fund the project, she said.

For now, the public is dependent on accessible chairlifts that can transport visitors from street level to the upper floors.

“I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to afford it,” Mr. Mozingo said.

Research has not turned up any other feasible forms of government assistance that could finance the construction of an elevator, he said.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.