News : Supervisors seek input from female courthouse personnel on LEC brick colors

The supervisors invited three women who work at courthouse to offer input on brick colors.

These two colors were chosen for the brick for the new LEC Tuesday morning.

Supervisor Jason Sanders asks a question of architect Todd McNall about brick colors.

Gina Edler, Lisa Epp and Mary Ann Blumer consider brick colors for LEC with architect Todd McNall.

Architect Todd McNall explains the color scheme designed for the new LEC.

Throughout the process of planning, designing and building the new Law Enforcement Center, the Benton County Supervisors have relied on experts in prison space, architecture, heating and cooling systems and many other areas.

On Tuesday, the three men on the Board of SUpervisors sought another kind of expertise: They asked a small group of women who work at the courthouse to offer their opinions on the color of brick to use for the new building.

The supervisors briefly moved their meeting from its usual location to the construction site, where four panels of bricks had been set up.

Along with supervisors Jason Sanders, Dave Vermedahl and Ron Buch, the discussion on the brick colors included Sheriff Randy Forsyth, architect Todd McNall and Jerry Petermeier. The men sought input from Gina Elder of the Auditor's Office and Assistant County Attorney Lisa Epp, as well as Mary Ann Blumer, who works in the County Attorney's office.

The nine spent approximately 30 minutes discussing the brick samples on display. They compared the samples to each other, as well as to that of neighboring buildings.

McNall told the group that the building design includes two contrasting color of bricks. a lighter color for the smaller walls and a darker color for the larger ones.

After coming to the consensus that one sample was "too purple" and another "too red," the ladies agreed that they preferred the two samples on the left, a lighter color called "autumn haze" and a darker color that is more brown than reddish.

The supervisors voted unanimously to go along with the women's recommendation.

McNall said there are literally thousands of possible brick colors, adding that each manufacturer creates dozens or hundreds of its own colors.

Reader Comments:

A very chauvenistic article. I am so glad I don't work at the courthouse. Really Dean?

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I believe that not only the color should be discussed but also the cost. I am glad I don't have to make the decision .