Courthouse fire tab increases

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A July fire at the Milwaukee County Courthouse caused between $10 million and $11 million in damage.

Don Tyler, the county’s director of administrative services director, told a Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors committee Wednesday that the insurance company has paid the county about $6 million so far.

The total cost of repairs still is not known, Tyler told the board’s Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee, nor is the cause of the fire.

The insurance company has invoices for more repairs, he said, and if approved, the county could receive as much as another $5 million.

The county has hired a consultant on fire causes and origins, he said, who will be involved in the insurance company’s investigation.

The electrical fire began in the courthouse basement July 6. The courthouse was not fully reopened until July 24. The courthouse continues to run off temporary power because the electrical system cannot be replaced until the investigation is complete. Tyler estimated installation of the new system could begin by late December.

— Beth Kevit