FREMONT — Staff are back in the historic Sandusky County Courthouse following major renovation work in recent months.

The $5.7 million rehabilitation project focused on improvements to the building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and the conversion to a single, secured entrance that has scanners and metal detectors — security features the courthouse previously lacked, county Administrator Theresa Garcia said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held Saturday for the newly refurbished courthouse — which first opened in 1844.

Crews kept the courthouse’s marble walls and patched the original flooring. They also moved an original chandelier to the top of the courthouse’s main stairway.

“We were able to put some things in to kind of keep a historic look but kind of brought it to this century,” Ms. Garcia said.

County-issued bonds paid for the renovations, which began in September. Mosser Construction was the project’s main contractor.

Staff relocated while work was under way. The Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas was temporarily housed at Terra State Community College, while juvenile and probate courts and offices were in the county’s job and family services building.

County leaders have been committed to renovating the courthouse, instead of demolishing and building a new one, Ms. Garcia said. They considered an addition to connect the courthouse to the county jail about 10 years ago, but never built the structure. Instead, they stuck with the historic courthouse.

“Because it’s a beautiful building,” Ms. Garcia said.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com or 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.

First Published July 9, 2017, 4:42 a.m.