Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve $11,200 treasurer‑office HVAC replacement; facilities staff warn building control overhaul may cost $100,000+
Summary
The board awarded a contract to replace a failing HVAC unit in the treasurer's office to the lowest quoted vendor, and facilities staff warned proprietary building controls are failing and may require a full replacement estimated between $100,000 and $120,000 to stabilize the courthouse HVAC system.
Blackford County commissioners approved spending for a replacement HVAC unit in the treasurer’s office and heard a separate facilities briefing that the courthouse’s proprietary control system is failing and may require a large‑scale control upgrade.
Facilities staff presented three vendors who have serviced units in the courthouse and said the lowest quoted cost to replace the treasurer‑office unit is $11,200 (Resolve Tech). Commissioners moved to accept the lowest quote and the motion passed, 3‑0.
Facilities staff also described persistent problems with the building’s proprietary controls: units that must be run off stand‑alone thermostats, loop temperatures fluctuating widely and an inability for outside vendors to fully service the system because the controls are proprietary. The staff estimate for replacing controls for the whole building ranged from about $100,000 to $120,000.
A facilities presenter said staff are manually monitoring the loop temperature and intermittently shutting the cooling tower off to protect boilers and system components; she told commissioners, “We are checking the loop temp every day. I am going in and turning off the cooling tower. And then when the loop temp gets up to above 90, going back in and turning it off.”
Commissioners approved the replacement unit so the treasurer’s office will have a functioning HVAC unit while staff continue assessing larger control‑system options. No final procurement or funding decision for a full building control replacement was made; staff said vendors are preparing control‑system proposals and that a full control replacement would include electronics and annual upkeep costs.
