Legislators on the Interim Appropriations Committee received an update on restoration of the Capitol building in Pierre.
The Legislature allocated $3 million for improvements of the 115-year-old building last session.
Darrin Seeley is the Commissioner of the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration. His department is overseeing the restorations. He said some work is already beginning.
"That’s the repair of plaster throughout the halls around the chamber and up above the gallery where we had water damage. Now that the roof is completed and watertight, we can fix those things and that has started,” Seeley said. “And so, that will be, we’re planning for that to be done hopefully in time for session to kick off, at least in those main areas.”
Seeley said other plans for paint and plaster are being worked on as well.
He said another aspect of the project is planned for after session.
“And that will be a restoration and rehabilitation of the rotunda area on second floor up. So, that will include repainting new lighting and then repairing some of the pant that’s incorrect. So, an example of that is the state seal when you come in from the south entrance is actually not the correct state seal,” Seeley said. “It was painted during the restoration in the '80s in preparation for the centennial, and a talented prisoner did the work, but it doesn’t match our actual state seal. And so that would be replaced.”
The department also plans to have a consultant conduct a full plan for the Capitol’s restoration. Documents presented to the committee show that will cost $780,000.
Seeley said the building is still not up to modern electrical and plumbing codes.
