Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve $108,150 courthouse HVAC controls upgrade; county cites energy savings and remote monitoring
Summary
The board awarded a contract to Andy J. Egan Company for a direct-digital control (DDC) upgrade to heating and cooling controls in the county building; county staff said the upgrade will improve efficiency, add zoning thermostats, enable remote alarm monitoring and may deliver a Consumers Energy rebate estimated at about $15,000.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Andy J. Egan Company to replace aging pneumatic heating and cooling controls in the county building with a direct-digital control system, accepting a funding package that included a 5% contingency for a total not-to-exceed amount of $108,150.
Jeff, a county facilities or operations staff member who presented the item, said the building’s current systems date to about 1990 and that digital controls will provide better controllability, zoning for spaces that previously had none, and energy savings. “We go to a direct digital control system. You have better controllability, way more efficient,” Jeff said. He also described benefits such as remote alarm notification — “if I get an alarm or something shuts down in this building, I have no idea until I get here in the morning … that’ll have the ability to do this here too, remote access.”
Jeff recommended awarding the proposal to Andy J. Egan Company, noting Egan installed the chiller last year and that their bid of about $102,729 plus a 5% contingency brought the funding request to $108,150. He said other firms included different contingency models and that he could remove the contingency if the board preferred.
Commissioners asked about the bid validity window and the expected Consumers Energy rebate. Jeff said he had confirmed the bid pricing was still valid and pointed to estimated rebates in the Egan bid line items (about $15,000 estimated) for automation and demand-control measures.
Commissioner Campbell moved to accept the award to Andy J. Egan Company in the contingency amount of $108,150; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
What this means: The county will replace older pneumatic controls with a DDC system, install zone thermostats, improve remote monitoring and alarm detection, and expect ongoing utility savings. Staff intends to collect the energy rebates and schedule work so interruptions are minimized; the vendor estimates a completion timeline by late spring.
Contract and procurement: The contract was awarded following standard public-bid procedures. Jeff said the vendor’s timeline and the county’s 2026 budget accommodate the project.
