Jennings County approves $435,000 courthouse HVAC replacement

Jennings County commissioners voted to approve replacement of the county courthouse heating and cooling system, authorizing roughly $435,000 to come from the county’s rainy-day fund.

The vote followed a technical presentation explaining the project’s scope, how the proposed closed-loop glycol system would allow year-round heating and cooling and reduce the need for ongoing chemical water treatment, and what work would be required inside the existing boiler room. "It's going to a very sophisticated, real thin stainless heat exchanger," the presenter said, adding that condensing boilers will require water-treatment if the loop is not isolated. The presenter also said routine maintenance after installation would likely run about $3,000–$4,000 annually for the boiler and cooling plant.

The project budget presented to commissioners lists $435,000 (transcript references that amount), and the presenters noted the budget did not include asbestos testing or remediation: "It hasn't even been tested," one presenter said of insulation that could contain asbestos. The contractor representative said asbestos removal, if needed, appeared likely to be minimal because there is not much insulated piping in the space.

Commission discussion focused on operational details, warranties and timing. Commissioners asked about the warranty terms; the contractor representative said the installation would include a one-year craftmanship warranty from the installing contractor, and component warranties for boilers and the cooling tower but that those component warranty details would be supplied in contract paperwork. The presenter estimated boiler life at about 20 years and cooling-tower life as long as 40 years with proper maintenance. The installation would require gutting the current boiler room and replacing pumps, piping and controls; the project team said the work could likely be completed in a roughly two-week window during an off-season changeover (October–November) to limit disruption.

Commissioners asked how payment would be scheduled; the presenter said the vendor is flexible and payments typically follow milestone deliveries rather than being paid fully up front. The commission also discussed temporary heating and cooling contingencies and whether removing nearby structures would affect the work; staff said removal of an adjacent old jail structure would not materially affect the new mechanical loop so long as the boiler-room structure remained intact.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the project and to fund it from the rainy-day fund; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The county will return with final contract documents, specific component warranties and a proposed maintenance agreement for the plant once vendor paperwork is complete.