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Facilities report: geothermal system maintenance, boiler protocol and May disaster drill planned
Summary
Facilities staff reported on geothermal system maintenance needs, ongoing work orders, and scheduled disaster preparedness exercises and inspections; Scott explained heat pump and boiler maintenance and the committee set an annual evacuation drill for May.
Facilities staff briefed the Neighbors of Dunn County standing committee on equipment maintenance and emergency planning at the Feb. 27 meeting.
Scott, the facilities presenter, said the campus is currently operating on geothermal only (boilers shut down for winter) and reported routine quarterly sprinkler testing and an upcoming fire alarm inspection. He noted the campus received a roof access ladder and that staff have been completing normal work orders and routine dishwasher repairs.
On geothermal maintenance Scott explained how the campus geothermal loop and heat pumps operate: the ground loop delivers thermal energy to heat pumps located in hallways outside resident rooms, and individual heat pumps use a refrigerant and compressors to heat or cool rooms. He said compressors and other components (reversing valves, motor starters, fans and filters) wear out over time and need replacement; Scott said there are roughly 277 heat pump units across campus and that compressor replacement and pump maintenance are recurring costs.
Scott said the campus also has condensing boilers that are tied into the geothermal loop as a backup; when boilers are used the loop to the field is closed so building loop water is heated rather than sending heat to the ground.
Emergency planning: staff said the annual disaster drill schedule will include a regional tabletop exercise and a full evacuation drill at the campus in May. The facility must hold two drills annually (one may be a tabletop with the safety committee and the other must be an evacuation drill). Staff said evacuation drills will involve community partners such as EMS, 911, the sheriff’s department, police and fire and that the facility will use volunteers to simulate residents where appropriate.
Supervisor Wolf and other committee members asked to be notified of the May exercise; staff said they would provide a date when finalized and that the drill is typically scheduled on a Wednesday to align with full‑time staffing.
Staff said warmer weather will let them install the received roof ladder and that boilers/heat pumps generally run well but require periodic component replacements; they said some boiler switching and geothermal maintenance are part of normal operations and that maintenance records are kept for pumps and compressors.
