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Penobscot County scrambles to cool jail kitchen after AC compressor fails; portable unit and long-term replacement discussed
Summary
County staff described an urgent failure of the jail kitchen air‑conditioning system, a temporary workaround using air movers and ice, an expected compressor delivery next week, and consideration of buying a water‑cooled portable unit (about $8,000) to use during future failures.
Penobscot County officials said a compressor failure over the weekend knocked out air conditioning in the county jail kitchen, forcing staff to deploy temporary air movers and other stopgap measures while they wait for replacement parts.
The county’s facilities staff told commissioners the compressor for the kitchen air conditioner shorted and then seized; they expect a new compressor to arrive in mid to late next week and said installation will take about a day after delivery. In the meantime staff removed a belt on a supply fan, placed fans to draw conditioned hallway air into the kitchen and used portable “air movers” and ice to try to lower temperatures.
County staff said the cooking equipment and…
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