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Chiller failure exposes recurring HVAC and maintenance issues at La Porte County facilities
Summary
A June 23 report detailed a chiller failure at the Michigan City Courthouse that knocked out multiple rooftop fans and controllers; commissioners approved targeted repairs and asked for full scope, warranty and cost estimates while discussing longer-term HVAC solutions and financing constraints.
County facilities staff told commissioners on June 23 that a chiller failure at the Michigan City Courthouse left multiple rooftop fans and two controllers inoperable during a period of high heat, forcing overnight monitoring and temporary jumpers to keep portions of the system running.
"The chiller went down," interim facilities director Angie Davis said, describing a call around midday and a troubleshooting sequence that found two controllers and several fan motors out of service. Contractor Larry Lewandowski said crews found multiple fans burned out and were able to jumper units and install replacement motors to get the system running; two fans remained out at the time of the update while controllers were being sourced.
Commissioners pressed for warranty information and cost estimates; staff confirmed some prior inspections and quotes dating to April 2024 and earlier. Davis said some correction work was proposed in 2024 but not completed; commissioners asked for a firm scope and cost breakdown before larger commitments are made. The council approved $21,000 to repair a problematic section of the complex roof (repair, not full replacement) and authorized $11,450 for jetting and camera inspection at the Juvenile Services Center after kitchen drain failures were observed.
Several commissioners called for a joint workshop on building-wide HVAC strategy and potential capital options, but noted limited borrowing capacity and the county’s reduced credit rating could make bond financing costly. Staff were asked to return with detailed invoices, warranty terms and long-term recommendations for improving system reliability and reducing recurring emergency repairs.
