An Office for the Aging staff member told the Health & Human Services Committee on May 20 that a freezer failure at a county nutrition site destroyed an estimated $5,000 worth of frozen meals and prompted an expedited plan to replace the unit.

"We lost about $5,000 worth of frozen meals," the staff member said, adding that the county’s nutrition program provides roughly 70,000 meals per year overall. The staff member said the failed chest freezer had a rusted bottom and had been placed on hard-packed ground rather than a concrete pad, which likely contributed to the equipment’s deterioration.

The Office for the Aging has budgeted for a replacement and plans to put the work out to bid; the bid opening is scheduled for June 9, just before the next full board meeting. Staff said the replacement scope in the bid includes placing the new freezer on a concrete pad, and the county expects to add surge protection and a remote temperature alarm system so staff can monitor freezer temperatures 24/7.

Program staff asked the committee to hold a special meeting in advance of the next full board meeting to review bids and make a recommendation. County staff also noted the department expects the replacement to come in somewhat higher than the original budget estimate and said some of the funding could come from leftover EverHome-related grant money in a county account.

Why it matters: the county’s nutrition program distributes tens of thousands of meals annually to older adults and other eligible residents. Officials said the freezer loss affected food resources directly and that adding monitoring and protective equipment will reduce the risk of future losses.

County staff will convene a special committee meeting to review the June 9 bid results and to recommend a contract award and installation plan, including required concrete work and monitoring equipment.