Agency asks to continue funding cooling, security and infrastructure upgrades at correctional facilities

Kristi Hallmer, deputy commissioner of AMC, told a state capital committee that the agency is seeking continued funding to expand air conditioning, safety and infrastructure upgrades at multiple correctional facilities across the state. "This funding will continue that work," Hallmer said, referring to prior allocations aimed at facilities with older and more medically vulnerable populations.

The request covers three overlapping groups of work: temporary cooling to create areas of refuge, design and permanent installation of HVAC systems, and ongoing safety, security and accessibility projects. Hallmer said the agency received $5,900,000 last year to begin work in Southern State Correctional Facility and is now asking to keep projects moving while design and contracting proceed.

For the HVAC work, Joe Widget, director of design and construction for Building and General Services, said the agency is pursuing two parallel contracting tracks: a construction manager to oversee permanent installations and retainer contracts for contractors to install temporary air conditioning units. "What we're doing right now is we're going out for construction managers, a construction manager firm to do the…