POINT PLEASANT — Starting Aug. 10, the front entrance to the Mason County Courthouse will be temporarily closed.

During Thursday’s Mason County Commission meeting, County Administrator John Gerlach announced that mobilization on the courthouse steps would begin in the evening on Monday, Aug. 10. According to Gerlach, the construction period could last up to 60 days.

Commissioners accepted the bid from Grae-Con Construction, Inc. of Marietta, Ohio to do the step work during the July 30 meeting. According to Gerlach, the project to replace the steps is being funded through a court facilities grant of $80,000.

Gerlach described the current steps as a hazard, due to them being uneven as well as having several cracks. When construction begins, the current steps, which are made of sandstone, will be completely removed. Concrete will then be poured and sandstone will be placed on top of the concrete in order to preserve the look of the steps and courthouse. In addition, an extra step will be added to the middle landing, which will make the area under the last step even with the sidewalk that leads to the street.

According to Gerlach, many people do not notice that there is a step down to the sidewalk, which has caused several accidents. Commissioner Rick Handley described the project as being very important.

“It will be so nice when (the steps) are done,” Handley said.

During the time period that the front steps are closed, those wishing to enter the courthouse are to use either the Main Street entrance or the back entrance.

In other business:

• Commissioners rejected bids for the airport roof because the bids were not in proper format and included a technical error.

• Gerlach reported that the patching of the main building’s roof at the fairgrounds was working.

• Commissioner Miles Epling reported that there are approximately 50 dogs at the Mason County Animal Shelter. Epling also said that the shelter is clean and looks to be in good condition.

• Commissioners will honor long-time Mason County Resident, Katy Wilson, at her 100th birthday party, which will take place Saturday.

The next meeting will be 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27.