Repairs drive after the DACH LOOK in January in the Baker Rathaus – BakerCityherald

1 From 3

The workers had to remove a section of the ceiling and plaster walls in the northwestern corner of Council Chambers in the Baker Rathaus due to water damage from a roof leak in early January 2025. (Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald)

The workers removed the ceiling on the east side of the council chambers in the Baker Rathaus due to water damage through a roof leak. (Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald

Gypsum walls were removed and unveiled the brick in the northwestern corner of Council Chambers in the Baker Rathaus due to water damage through a roof leak in early January 2025 (Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald)

Water damage through the permeable roof of Baker City Hall in the early winter will probably force the city council to meet at least two more months on the Quail Ridge Golf Course, said city administrator Barry Murphy on Wednesday, March 12th.

The most important damage to council chambers on the north side of the second floor in the 122-year-old building.

The city commissioned workers to remove the ceiling on the eastern third of the council chambers and the plaster walls in the northeast and northwest of the room.

The crews also removed the carpet in the council chambers.

The plywood underfloor did not have to be replaced, said Murphy.

Murphy said the city's insurance policy should cover a “large majority” of the costs of removing damaged objects and replacement. The insurance policy has a deductible of USD 1,000.

He said that the city has spent around $ 30,000 so far to remove damaged materials. The city will send these invoices to its insurance company for reimbursement.

At the beginning of January, city officials noticed water damage in the basement, after a snowfall, followed by warmer temperatures and record ratios on January 3..

Officials then found water damage in a storage room in the tax office directly under the council chambers and in the council chambers themselves.

Danielle Schuh, the deputy public work director of the city, said that the leaks were caused by the establishment of ice in the northwest and northeast of the roof. The damage is not widespread, she said, and the workers would have to replace or replace some drains, seams and damaged flashing sections. A roof entrepreneur who examined the entire roof did not find any other repairs required, said Schuh.

Schuh said the city was waiting for a final report by the insurance company, including the amount of the claim. The city then begins with the planning of repairs, also in the council chambers.

Schuh said that many city workers and others had seen the exposed brick walls after the water after removing the water that they like the historical appearance of the brick.

She said it could be possible to leave some of the brick walls as they are instead of covering them with plaster or drywall. This could possibly even be the cheaper option in view of the cost of the plaster, said Schuh.

Murphy said that the city council is planning to continue to meet on the golf course in the city. If there are conflicts on how the course opened for the year, the city has other opportunities to meet space, he said.

Jayson has been working at the Baker City Herald since November 1992 and started as a reporter. He has been a publisher since December 2007. In 1992 he completed the University of Oregon's Journalism School with a bachelor's degree in News-Duditorial Journalism.

More from Jayson