Repairs to hail damage to the dome of the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne have begun, but a larger renovation project is still on hold amid funding concerns. State of Wyoming

Dome repairs begin at Capitol; no money yet for bigger project

May 15, 2012 - McClatchy Newspapers

CHEYENNE (MCT) -- Repairs to the State Capitol dome are expected to cost close to $1 million.

The state would be responsible for about half that amount, with insurance covering the rest.

Phil Kinder, deputy construction administrator for the state, said the dome has seen normal wear and tear through the years. But last year's hailstorms exacerbated previous damage and left the dome in need of the fix.

"That was the final straw," he said.

He said work is already beginning to remove the sheet metal that surrounds the dome.

The material will be shipped to Ontario, Canada to the specialist roofing firm of Heather and Little Limited.

Kinder said the Canadian company is one of the few that handles custom historical restorations of domes and similar buildings.

Meanwhile, state officials and legislators on Monday reiterated the need for renovations to the State Capitol and construction of a new state office building in Cheyenne.

But it remains unclear when the state will actually fund the two closely linked projects. Combined, they could cost up to $130 million.