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County vets Multistack modular chillers as replacement for courthouse cooling system
Summary
Two vendors briefed the committee on replacing the courthouse chilled‑water system with modular Multistack chillers; presenters said the selection offers redundancy, fits available space and carries an estimated lead time of about 16 weeks; staff will put the project into an RFP so bidders can price final options.
Two contractors briefed the Highway Committee and county staff on options to replace the courthouse’s aging chilled‑water system and outdoor condensers.
"We're looking at two 30‑ton modules, which would give you 60 tons," Paul, a representative of WHB, said. He and Benny, a representative of Ash Creek, described a modular Multistack chiller system that would be installed in the basement, with two separate condenser banks and controls designed so one module can operate if the other fails.
Why it matters: the committee was told the current outdoor condenser units are obsolete, have been patched this season and are likely to fail again. Presenters said the Multistack modular approach would provide redundancy so an individual component failure would not take the whole system offline — a concern the county flagged because cooling failures can affect inmate transport and building operations.
Key details discussed: presenters said the modular chillers would fit the basement footprint (some pad expansion needed), require separate power feeds for redundancy, and likely use the newer HFO refrigerant noted in recent equipment. Lead time for the equipment was estimated at about 16 weeks; presenters cautioned that delivery could be as long as 20 weeks in some circumstances. When asked about cost, one presenter said, "I would be shocked if it's over $500,000," but he also cautioned that a final proposal and formal quotes were needed before budgeting.
Procurement plan: staff said they will prepare a request for proposals and return bids to the committee for review. Committee members asked for visual materials and a firm cost estimate before the RFP is finalized. Staff said an award decision would need to be made early in the calendar year to meet lead‑time constraints if the county wants new equipment installed before the next cooling season.
What’s next: WHB and Ash Creek will provide drawings and participate in the RFP process; county staff will add the project to the upcoming procurement timetable and present draft RFP language at the next committee meeting.
