Cape Coral Council approves replacement of humidity-control units at multiple fire stations after debate over contractor and scope

The Cape Coral City Council voted 8-0 on Feb. 19 to approve Resolution 47-25, authorizing the replacement of aging humidity-control units at several city fire stations and awarding the work under an existing continuing contract.

Council action followed public comment from Mark Mirth, president of the Cape Coral Professional Firefighters Local 2424, who said the union supported improvements but urged an engineering study before spending money to replace equipment that may not be the root cause. “If there’s an option that a study can get done and completed with the current system and see if it’s more of an engineering flaw, would that money then be able to get moved elsewhere?” Mirth asked.

City and department staff replied that the work reflects recommendations from a professional HVAC engineering study commissioned after the department saw persistent humidity and condensation in station ceiling plenums. “When that study came back, it was all inclusive. It included the plenum space… The systems referenced are not the same systems that were replaced in 2018,” Acting Fire Chief Mike Russell said, adding the new work is intended to reduce humidity and follow the study’s recommendations. Assistant Public Works Director Damon Grant said the units to be replaced are original Aeon units, “range between 15 and 18 years old,” and that they work in tandem with HVAC systems installed four to five years ago.

Council members pressed for technical clarity and questioned awarding work to a contractor with an unresolved dispute on a separate, earlier project. City Manager Mike Elshirs and staff explained the vendor is on a continuing-contract list and that administration had not yet exhausted discussions about remediating the prior project. Councilmember Steinke, who pulled the item for discussion, said she wanted more information before committing large funds. A motion to continue awarding the work to allow further review failed (three in favor, five opposed). The council then voted to approve the award and the replacement work.

Roll call on the final approval recorded the following: Long; Steinke; Donnell; Gunter; Kaduk; Kilraign; Lastra; Lehman — all “aye.” The resolution was carried, 8-0.

The adopted work plan covers replacement of five Aeon humidity-control units across multiple stations and includes post-installation verification by the engineering firm, staff said. Staff also noted that the replacement equipment complies with the EPA’s new A2L refrigerant requirements that took effect this year.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized that the project aims to reduce humidity-related mold risk and improve station conditions before the warmer months. The city also said it will continue to pursue remediation with the contractor on the earlier underground utility/storm-drain issue and may restrict future awards if the vendor declines to make the city whole.

Council members who requested follow-up said they expect staff to return with documentation clarifying the study’s findings, the precise scope and cost of the approved work, and the status of discussions with the contractor on the unrelated project.