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Commissioners approve using REET funds to replace failing fire panels at juvenile and resource centers
Summary
Facility staff told commissioners that the fire-control panels at the Juvenile Justice and G Mountain Resource Center have failed and parts are unavailable. The board agreed to commit about $205,846 from REET reserves to cover replacements.
Brian (Facility Services) told the board on Jan. 27 the fire-control panels at the county’s Juvenile Justice facility and the resource center had failed and vendor support could not source replacement parts. The failing panels have produced false alarms and create a material operational and safety disruption.
The nut graf: because the county’s facilities reserves were low, Facility Services requested authorization to use Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funds to pay for the work. County staff reported approximately $1 million in REET reserves and proposed using roughly $205,846 to replace the panels and upgrade associated hardware so the systems are fully supported and monitored.
Commissioners and the county’s capital planning official discussed alternatives, including bonding REET-backed projects, but raised concerns about reducing REET flexibility for future capital needs. Craig (budget/capital staff) recommended using REET for the urgent safety projects given the facilities’ low reserves and the projects’ place on the six-year capital-improvement plan.
Commissioners gave their assent to proceed and asked staff to move forward with the REET allocation and installations so the panels are replaced and buildings are again fully monitored and in compliance with insurance and life-safety requirements.
