Courthouse flagpole may rise again

The flag no longer flies over the Spokane County Courthouse.

But officials say they hope to put one back in the same place – even though it may cost more than $10,000.

A crew with a towering crane spent about five hours Friday afternoon unloosening the steel pole from a complex wooden support structure in the courthouse tower.

The pole has been at the top of the courthouse for a century or so. Although there’s nothing wrong with the pole, a windstorm on Nov. 21 broke one of the wooden supports, leaving it leaning 3 to 4 feet to the north, said county facilities director Ron Oscarson.

Part of the problem may originate from the permanent hole in the roof where the ropes holding the flag hang. Decades of rain and weather likely weakened the structure.

Still, it took crews much longer than expected to pull the pole from the top.

“Even though some of it was rotted, some of it is tougher than tough,” Oscarson said.

The county expects to pay about $4,000 for the pole’s removal.

Oscarson said a decision hasn’t been made about where a new flag will be placed. If leaders decide the cost is too much, a pole could be placed on courthouse grounds.

County commissioners said they lean toward shelling out a bit more money to keep it at the top of the courthouse. Commissioner Todd Mielke called its placement on top as “majestic” and “Disney-esque.”

“My gut reaction is it’s a worthwhile cause,” said Commissioner Mark Richard. “In the long run, it would probably be worth the expense.”