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County staff reports deteriorating systems, radon readings and HVAC failures across courthouse campus
Summary
Maintenance staff reported repeated plumbing breaks, boiler leaks, radon readings above recommended levels in multiple county buildings, and costly HVAC and rooftop-unit replacements—concerns county officials said may require near‑term mitigation spending.
County buildings and grounds staff told commissioners Monday that multiple county facilities are showing signs of severe wear and require near‑term attention, including roof leaks, failing plumbing, boiler problems and elevated radon levels.
Jason (last name not specified), who oversees building maintenance, described recent mechanical failures at the Chase Building, courthouse, Lincoln Tower (radio/EMS electronics building) and the law enforcement center. He said rooftop HVAC units on the Chase Building need replacement; vendor estimates for materials were roughly $60,000 per the staff summary. He also said shops found steel flaking inside boiler filters and that glycol (the boiler heat-transfer fluid) was leaking through roof membranes.
Staff reported multiple plumbing failures in jail showers and broken galvanized pipe that crumbled when maintenance crews attempted cleaning operations. Commissioners and staff said many original pipes are cast iron or galvanized and are beyond practical repair.
Radon testing performed with newly purchased digital monitors returned readings the staff described as “3.45” in one boiler room and a reading as high as 13.01 in a meeting room; other locations showed values of 6 and 8. County staff said readings above 4 require prompt remedial action and that they have contacted radon‑mitigation contractors for proposals. The county plans to evaluate mitigation options for multiple buildings and will share cost estimates when available.
Jason said the courthouse campus and related structures have accumulated deferred maintenance and that building‑system repairs and replacements are consuming an escalating share of the facilities budget; he warned staff had trimmed planned work and that the building budget is insufficient to address all needs.
Ending: Commissioners requested that building staff prepare a prioritized list of critical health and safety repairs, obtain bids for radon mitigation and HVAC work, and return with more precise cost estimates for consideration in upcoming budget discussions.
