Bartle Hall is slated for crucial roof repairs

Bartle Hall’s roofs leak so badly that water has dripped on cars at the auto show and conventioneers frequently complain.

“They’re in bad shape,” said Kansas City convention and entertainment centers director Oscar McGaskey about the flat thermal plastic roofs over halls A, B, D and E. “We can’t repair them anymore.”

The roofs date to 1992, past the normal 20-year life span. McGaskey said conventioneers have been complaining for five years about water leaking into their booths and on the carpet and floors.

In response, the City Council’s finance committee on Wednesday endorsed $1.4 million in roof replacement and repairs. The full council votes Aug. 27. The money would come from the convention and tourism fund, which has had more robust revenues this year and now has sufficient funds to cover these repairs.

The city has already taken bids and chosen JR & Co. to do the work. McGaskey said that the roofers can work while events are going on and that the job should be finished in 90 days.

Crews will start soon after the full council votes.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Bartle Hall is slated for crucial roof repairs."