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Assembly flags HVAC, mold concerns and long-term options for city–state courthouse/police building
Summary
Assembly members and maintenance staff discussed mold concerns and aging HVAC systems in the shared city–state building, and staff identified a possible $3 million project (60/40 state–city split) with a Sitka share of roughly $581,000; members raised questions about recoverability and a long-term police facility.
Assembly members and maintenance staff spent an extended portion of the Jan. 9 meeting discussing condition issues at the shared city–state building that houses court functions and municipal offices, focusing on HVAC reliability, water infiltration and staff reports of odors and health complaints.
Staff said the building's HVAC system is original to 1974 and had intermittent modifications in later decades. The assembly was told the total appropriation shown in the capital list for building work is $3,000,000; staff said that figure reflected the full project and that the city’s portion would be roughly $581,000 if the project proceeds under a 60/40 state–city funding split.
Maintenance superintendent Connor Dunlap described work the facilities team had done and air-quality testing carried out by the state after staff and state employees reported smells and health concerns. “There is not, at this point, confirmed cases of of mold in the building,” Dunlap said, adding that staff had performed visual inspections and found roof leaks and original HVAC equipment that is aging.
Assembly members raised two related issues: whether the building is worth major investment if the state might relocate court services, and whether the municipality should plan for a purpose‑built public safety building rather than repeatedly repairing the aging shared building. One assembly member noted a 2019 estimate that a new police building could cost more than $20 million, and several members said they preferred to develop long-term options even as short‑term HVAC, roof and mold concerns are addressed.
Why it matters: The building hosts judicial functions, and staff reported court had been moved temporarily into the assembly chamber because of HVAC-related problems elsewhere. The city's share of any major rehabilitation depends on state participation; staff said that coordination and legislative funding would be necessary to pursue a full rehabilitation.
Next steps: Staff will pursue conversations with state partners about shared funding; the assembly asked staff to continue condition assessments and provide more detailed cost breakdowns, and to consider both short‑term fixes and long‑term options for a police facility.
Ending: Assembly members said the condition assessment work and grant/legislative coordination should continue; serious health hazards were not confirmed by air‑quality tests reported at the meeting, but members agreed the building needs prioritized repairs and clearer long‑term planning.
