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Health department renovation to add restroom exhaust; consultants say existing 2009 HVAC met past code
Summary
During the Jan. 21 meeting county staff and the health department reported that planned restroom ventilation work will proceed to meet current code in renovated areas, and consultants advised no county acknowledgement of noncompliance was required after review of historic work completed in 2009.
Coffey County’s health department renovation remains on track after county staff and consultants reviewed a pending question about restroom ventilation compliance.
Amelie Marcher, the county Health Department administrator, told commissioners drywall and painting in Phase 2 are finished and flooring installation will follow. Work on the health department portion is ahead of schedule; staff said a punch‑list walkthrough could occur within about two weeks.
A pending issues review focused on a restroom ventilation pathway. BG Consultants had requested an acknowledgement letter noting a lower‑level restroom was not ventilating to the outside under 2024 code provisions. Marcher said consultants subsequently determined the facility’s 2009 HVAC renovation complied with the code applicable at that time, and allowed the contractor to proceed with the planned routing of an exhaust system to the lower-level restroom.
The county discussed whether to pursue a full HVAC update to bring the older areas into 2024 code, but consultants told the board that would be a separate decision and is outside the current renovation scope. Commissioners were told that any further HVAC upgrades through the building would require county direction, scope definition and separate budgeting.
Why it matters: The restroom ventilation fix touches on life‑safety and code compliance for a public health facility. Staff confirmed the immediate renovation can proceed; longer-term decisions on a building‑wide ventilation update will require a county decision and likely bids from mechanical contractors.
Outcome: Staff reported that Phase 2 work will continue and that no immediate administrative acknowledgment of code noncompliance was required because the earlier renovation followed the 2009 code adopted at that time. Commissioners accepted the update and no formal vote was required.
Next steps: Consultants will provide estimates for any optional county‑initiated HVAC upgrades if the board requests those later. Health department staff said they expect to schedule a punch‑list walkthrough in approximately two weeks and to coordinate timing for a public opening once renovation and final inspections are complete.
