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Council hears plan to replace aging HVAC at Bowen Building; council members favor replacing entire system if costs reasonable
Summary
Marshall County leaders were briefed on aging HVAC units in the county-owned Bowen Building and directed staff to obtain multiple bids. Contractors warned piecemeal repairs could lead to higher costs and longer downtime; staff said final quotes and timelines will be delivered privately to council members and an appropriation request may follow in
County Commissioner Stan Klotz briefed the council on April 14 about aging HVAC equipment at the Bowen Building and asked the council for guidance on whether to proceed with full replacement or incremental repairs.
Klotz said contractors told county staff the building’s air-handling configuration is tight and that the units are about 25 years old. He warned that doing a partial repair now could require ripping out components again later: "if we don't do it right now, they ever had to go back and change weight or that bill, it could be down several weeks, 3 to 4 weeks because they'd have to rip everything out again to get that air handle and change it all." He said the county has money available and that a cushion in the facilities budget could cover some of the cost, but final quotes are pending.
Council members expressed general support for replacing the system if bids are reasonable and available, and urged staff to collect multiple quotes. One member advised obtaining three bids to ensure competitive pricing and availability; another member noted that emergency responsiveness and warranty/service relationships matter when selecting contractors.
Staff said they will collect quotes that describe both (a) limited repairs to get through a near-term period and (b) full replacement options, including timelines. Contractors warned that lead times and supply-chain availability could delay work, and staff said they will provide quotes and timelines privately to council members as soon as they arrive. If the council endorses full replacement, an appropriation request will be presented for consideration at an upcoming meeting.
