Gazebo Roof To Be Preserved, Rest Of Structure Torn Down

The fate of the Crawford County courthouse gazebo was announced Tuesday, bringing a resolution to the decades-old structure that has been a hot topic since late September.

The group dedicated saving the gazebo learned that a crane will be brought to Steelville on Wednesday to remove the roof. Crawford County will then remove the rest of the gazebo and a new base will be put in its place at some point down the road.

Crawford County will not spend any money on the crane or the crane operator. The only money the county will spend is $5,200 that comes from the risk reimbursement pool. Before a group of Crawford County residents set out to save the gazebo, the county was already planning on building a new one.

That group must foot the bill for the crane, crane operator, storage of the roof and bringing the crane back in to have the roof placed. 

Tami Cape, one of the group members, announced Tuesday it will cost $1,600 and they are asking for donations.

Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders told the Independent News on Friday that the county will have the rest of the gazebo torn down sometime Thursday.

“As quick as we can,” said Sanders about the timing of the teardown, which has been revealed as a liability risk.

“We will have a backhoe and basically tear it apart, load it in a dump truck and get rid of it,” Sanders said. “Our main objective is to get it down.”

The commission was originally working at a brisk pace in having it removed. In early September, the commission took action on finding a replacement from 5 Star Buildings in Cuba. The gazebo is leaning into the courthouse and according to a report from Midwest Public Risk — the county’s public entity risk pool — has several deficiencies. 

Later that month, “Save the Crawford County Bandstand” emerged, hoping to change the commission’s decision. After running through several options, the commission gave the group one final choice — pay to have the roof taken off and stored somewhere or the gazebo would be removed altogether.

Cape represented the group Tuesday and was unsure through the morning how soon they could get the crane to Steelville. Sanders continued pressing her for a decision and wanted to know that day, which he stood by when asked about the gazebo Friday.

“It had to be that day,” Sanders said.