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Buildings & Grounds seeks approval to use $89,000 purchase order for boiler upgrades and long-term maintenance
Summary
Speaker 2 told the Buildings & Grounds committee the district will ask the board to split an $89,000 purchase order between Roberts Mechanical (parts) and GEM (installation) to replace heat exchangers, add separators and online monitoring, and enter a yearly service contract; no formal vote occurred at the meeting.
Speaker 2 reported to the Buildings and Grounds committee that the district plans to use a previously approved $89,000 purchase order to replace heat exchangers and add monitoring and water-treatment services for boilers at Parkside and Riverview and will ask the committee and full board to approve the approach on Thursday.
The presentation laid out the technical scope and financing: Speaker 2 said Roberts Mechanical would supply parts and equipment while GEM would perform installation and labor. "The installation from GEM would be $23,006.90. The parts and equipment from Roberts is $60,005.68," Speaker 2 said, adding the combined cost of $84,002.58 is below the $89,000 purchase order. Speaker 2 also said Mestec, the manufacturer, and Roberts agreed to a $20,000 discount on two heat exchangers and that the district should expect a $20,000 rebate once Mestec signs off after monitoring.
Speaker 2 described added components and services to extend boiler life: Spirotherm/Spirovent air and dirt separators with a magnetic strainer, an online monitoring system (described in the meeting as a "HeatNet"/online monitoring), and a recommended chemical water‑treatment company that would perform biannual tests and adjustments. Speaker 2 said Roberts would supervise installation, sign off after commissioning, then provide ongoing yearly maintenance through an Ethernet‑based monitoring setup. "We're gonna give you $20,000, and I'm standing back going, okay. If it breaks, it's on you," Speaker 2 said, summarizing the vendor warranty arrangement and the district's intent to rely on a single vendor for oversight and maintenance.
The committee discussed a specific repair at Riverview: Speaker 2 said one boiler has debris growing inside a heat exchanger and that Roberts, working with GEM, would remove and clean it and send material to a separate company for analysis at an estimated $5,235. Speaker 3 and Speaker 1 asked whether the new parts would be compatible with existing boilers; Speaker 2 replied the parts will work for both boilers and both schools.
No formal motion or vote was recorded at the meeting. Speaker 2 explicitly requested that the Buildings & Grounds committee and the full board approve reallocating the approved purchase order so the district can proceed with parts, installation and a service contract; the request is scheduled to appear on the board agenda on Thursday.
Background and related facilities items covered in the same meeting included a recent health-department inspection (no major findings), Vasco's biannual turf cleaning and repair on the football field, completed trenching for a new softball scoreboard power line, ongoing roof leaks across multiple flat roofs (most addressed, some outliers remain), and discussion of removing aging modular trailers at Melridge after the school year. Speaker 1 also said a bus-treatment contract would be forwarded to the treasurer and placed on the next agenda.
Next steps: the committee will consider the staff request at the Thursday board meeting; no vote or formal contract award was made during the Buildings & Grounds session.
