Kurt and facilities staff updated the County Property Committee on July 25 about multiple building maintenance projects downtown and at the jail, including air‑conditioning compressor failures, exterior masonry and flashing replacement, a slow window delivery for a trial area, and discussions about higher‑level security doors for some courthouse locations.
Why it matters: committee members were told the work affects daily courthouse operations (dust, temporary alarm silencing) and could change project budgets if higher‑security hardware is added; staff also reported small refunds from prior project allowances that reduce net cost pressures.
Facilities staff said the jail relies on four refrigeration‑type compressors for cooling and that one had been down for nearly two weeks while parts were sourced; other compressors and control relays at jail locations and downtown units also required repair or replacement. "We were waiting for parts for almost 2 weeks. We finally got Carrier to call and say we have the parts so they're coming in Saturday to put the parts in that compressor so I'll have 4 back on," staff said, describing temporary capacity shortfalls during hot weather.
On the downtown courthouse, crews have been cutting brick and replacing flashing at a banding elevation around windows and parapet shelf angles. Staff said cutting created dust that triggered smoke alarms during work; crews have capped detectors near windows and have been silencing the fire alarm while work is underway to avoid false activations. Staff described the repair sequence: cut and remove failed brick, support adjacent masonry with temporary wedges, clean and prep the cavity, treat and paint exposed steel, replace flashing and then reinstall brick.
Staff also reported a $5,000 credit to the county from an unused allowance in the jail roof project in addition to a previously reported $10,000 refund from an electrical phase 2 project. "There will be $5,000 credited back to the county for that," staff said of the jail roof allowance refund.
On windows, the county is awaiting delivery of a window trial area the committee will inspect before deciding whether to proceed with a broader window replacement program. The glass shop confirmed the order but the delivery date remains uncertain, and staff cautioned that delivery dates routinely slip.
Security upgrades: staff said a cosmetic courthouse courtroom project has been expanded in scope by a new judge’s preference for a higher‑level security door and that the cost for upgraded doors is substantially higher than originally budgeted. Committee members asked whether an executive session is needed to discuss security details; the chair suggested placing the matter on the next committee agenda to consider options and funding. Staff described an intent to seek direction about whether to remove the higher‑cost doors from the project scope or to identify alternate funding.
Other project notes: the county is scheduling certification of the lightning‑protection system and final paperwork for the jail roof to obtain written certification and close out that project; staff expects those items to be completed in the coming weeks. Staff also reported the IT room floor project is complete and final payment is being processed.
No formal vote was taken on the repair or security work at the July 25 committee meeting; staff will bring budget estimates and options back for committee consideration.