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Facilities committee reorders ARPA capital priorities as building demolitions and air-handler replacements rise in cost
Summary
Champaign County facilities staff told the Facilities Committee they will reprioritize ARPA capital spending to accelerate a nursing-home demolition and a coordinated replacement of three aging air handlers at the ILEAS facility.
Champaign County facilities staff told the Board Facilities Committee they intend to shift the ARPA capital replacement schedule to prioritize a nursing-home demolition and replacement of three aging air handlers at the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) facility.
Staff said the three air handlers have a typical 25-year life cycle but are about 52 years old and “require a lot of manual work.” Facilities staff recommended timing the air-handler replacement to coincide with the planned nursing-home demolition because the two basements abut one another; demolishing the nursing home first could avoid additional demolition at ILEAS and lower total costs.
Facilities staff said the air-handler replacement is already included in the county’s CARF funding and estimates the total cost for that work at about $1 million. The nursing-home demolition carries its own uncertainties: staff cited unknown asbestos remediation and mold contamination that could increase disposal and abatement costs and said a working estimate for full demolition is roughly $1.2 million, with the county planning to split that cost with the highway department.
Committee members asked whether ARPA funds will be sufficient before the 2026 spending deadline. Staff said many projects are already in progress — a courthouse boiler and feed-water tank are ordered, courthouse security door upgrades are about to enter construction, and several juvenile detention center (JDC) projects are moving forward with architect/engineer work and upcoming RFPs — and that staff expect ARPA funds can be spent on these projects. Staff also emphasized seasonality risks: the ILEAS air-handler work will require shutting off building heating and cooling and must be coordinated around training schedules; the jail roof should be completed before winter.
No formal action was taken; staff said they will return with updated cost breakdowns and scheduling proposals.
