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Facilities director recommends replacement cooling tower; commissioners request technical review before purchase
Summary
Facilities staff presented a vendor quote for a replacement cooling tower and recommended next steps; commissioners asked for a technical briefing with HVAC and roofing representatives to ensure long-term durability and coordination with a planned roof project.
Sagadahoc County’s facilities director told commissioners the vendor quote for a replacement cooling tower had risen to about $124,900 and that lead times have shortened to roughly eight weeks, and asked how to proceed.
Why it matters: The county’s cooling tower affects HVAC function for a county facility. Replacing the tower involves a near-term capital outlay and may interact with an upcoming flat-roof replacement project, so commissioners wanted to be sure the installation will be durable and not undermined by other work.
What staff reported: Facilities Director Aaron Hanscomb presented the updated vendor proposal and noted that the cost has risen from prior quotes (roughly $112,000 last year and $70,000 in 2020). He said the design and shell provide the primary coverage; concerns remain about pumps and electrical equipment being exposed to water and winter weather, which previously damaged motors and pumps.
Board response and next steps: Commissioners asked facilities and the county’s roofing/maintenance leads to meet with vendor technical reps and with Todd (staff identified as the in-house technical lead) to confirm whether the quoted unit and its mounting details are appropriate for the roof configuration and to identify protective measures. One commissioner suggested completing heavy construction work tied to the tower before replacing or repairing the roof; others said the tower manufacturer commonly installs towers on new roofs and that protective materials can be used.
Finance: Commissioners were reminded that a separate flat-roof project had been budgeted in the capital plan for the fall and that the procurement should be coordinated to avoid rework.
Ending: Facilities staff will arrange a technical conference (vendor representative, facilities lead and building maintenance) and report back to the commissioners with recommendations on whether to proceed immediately or to coordinate the tower installation with the planned roofing work.
