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Beaver County reviews Human Services heating repairs and a proposed ban on electric space heaters
Summary
At a Jan. 22 Beaver County work session, county staff reported new boilers for the Human Services Building are arriving, rooftop unit delivery and repairs remain delayed, and the county solicitor previewed a resolution that would ban electric space heaters in county facilities after a recent fire.
Beaver County officials at a Jan. 22 work session outlined repair plans for courthouse and Human Services heating systems and discussed a solicitor-drafted resolution that would prohibit electric space heaters in county buildings.
A county facilities staff member said new boiler units for the Human Services Building "are in this week" and crews hope to schedule installation the following week. The staff member said rooftop units the county has been waiting on have a long lead time and noted an "estimated delivery date on those February," adding that one vendor had said "we have 56 weeks." The staff member also said the county will likely need to close the alley between the Human Services parking lot and the service building to accommodate a crane for rooftop work.
The county solicitor told commissioners that 27 resolutions are on the agenda for the next day and described No. 27 as "a policy, effectively banning electronic heaters in here in any kind of facilities," citing recent fire activity at the Human Services Building. Commissioners asked whether battery-powered fans or portable battery heaters would be covered; the solicitor said the draft policy is aimed at plugged-in electric devices and that propane heaters would also be inappropriate in county buildings.
A county facilities staff member explained technical concerns tied to individual space heaters: "So while your cubicle or office space is nice and warm, everyone else is out there freezing because there's no call for heat," the staff member said, describing how localized heaters can prevent the building HVAC system from calling for heat and leave other areas cold. Commissioners discussed window heat loss in large offices and noted that in some rooms a heater might not affect the wall-mounted thermostat.
Commissioners and staff also discussed short-term measures, including purchasing radiant heat units for the sheriff's entry area to provide targeted warmth for deputies and visitors. No formal vote was taken at the work session; the solicitor said the heater ban would appear on the next meeting agenda as Resolution 27.
County officials said they would continue to work with vendors and with Reno Brothers and Constellation (companies named during the discussion) to diagnose repeated heating-system failures and to identify parts required for repairs.
