MANSFIELD — The cost of replacing the century-old slate roof at Dayspring is going to cost $466,000 more than anticipated in order to meet historical society requirements.
Dayspring, the county home and assisted living facility at 3220 Mansfield-Olivesburg Road, is included on the Ohio Historic Inventory and the National Register of Historic Places.
Officials had hoped to replace the aging slate roof with a 35-year asphalt-shingle roof at a cost of $396,000. The county has received a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant award to help cover the costs.
The work must be completed by the end of 2020, under the terms of the grant.
However, the state’s historic preservation office notified the county that the slate tile roof is one of the character defining features that qualifies the building for National Register listing.
“The removal of a character defining feature does not meet the Secretary of Interior’s standards for the treatment of historic properties and therefore, constitutes an adverse effect on historic properties,” the letter said.
That left the county with two choices approved by the historical society — a synthetic-slate roof for $662,000 that will last 35 years and a natural slate roof for $862,000 that will last 100 years.
Dayspring director Michelle Swank met with county commissioners to go over the new estimated costs. The facility is funded through a local levy and the payments of residents.
She brought in a large piece of slate that had recently fallen off the roof and also a bag of smaller slate pieces that had fallen, deterioration that could become a safety hazard for residents and guests.
Swank said Dayspring has saved $878,665 in its capital improvements fund during recent years. Including the $100,000 CDBG grant, the project would leave only $116,000 in the improvements fund.
“We saved the money for a rainy day and it’s here,” Swank said.
At the request of commissioners, Swank will investigate to find out if Historical Society grants are available to help pay for the work. She said she would like to have the work started this summer.
