County maintenance warns building maintenance costs may rise; highlights HVAC, EMS station and library door issues

Cooke County maintenance staff told commissioners that most line items for routine maintenance are unchanged but warned that building maintenance costs are likely to rise and asked the court to consider restoring a larger contingency.

Maintenance reported that the department has historically budgeted between roughly $155,000 and $200,000 for building maintenance; the presenter said recent air‑conditioning failures this year make the lower request of $180,000 risky and said “if I had to do it over again, I'd leave the $200,000 in that line item.” He explained that HVAC, electrician and plumber repairs and materials are paid from the building‑maintenance line and said predicting when major equipment will fail is difficult.

Maintenance listed specific capital or near‑term projects: replace the original R‑22 air‑conditioning unit at EMS Station 2 (unit likely original to the station); repair rotten masonite siding and soffit on the older EMS frame building (estimated $20,000); and investigate ventilation in ambulance bays that can reach high temperatures when ambulances are parked and doors are closed. The maintenance presenter said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the ambulance‑bay ventilation and recommended an assessment to properly size any fans or ventilation solution.

Library safety was also discussed. Maintenance and staff adjusted a sliding library door to its slowest setting and proposed blacking out the adjacent glass and adding weather‑stripping so children cannot place hands in the gap when the door opens; they noted egress requirements prevent permanent obstructions.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about insurance deductibles and timing of projects. No vote or spending authorization was made at the hearing; staff requested further consideration as the budget is finalized.