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County facilities chief proposes limits on personal space heaters, recommends system upgrades
Summary
Facilities manager Garrett told the commission personal space heaters create electrical and fire hazards and suggested replacing them with heating blankets/pads while pursuing a longer-term HVAC diagnostic and phased repairs to county buildings.
Garrett, the county facilities representative, raised safety concerns about repeated use of personal space heaters in older county buildings, citing fire hazards, electrical overloads and interference with existing pneumatic/radiant HVAC systems. He said heaters can mask failing building systems and delay necessary repairs.
Garrett proposed a preliminary policy to replace personal space heaters with individual heating blankets and pads as a lower‑risk interim measure and urged a broader, data‑driven approach: diagnostic work to identify failing systems, targeted repairs and staged upgrades rather than blanket replacements. He acknowledged enforcement limits and asked department heads and elected officials to take responsibility for local compliance rather than making facilities staff the 'space‑heater police.'
Commissioners and other speakers suggested practical, low‑cost fixes such as door draft guards and thermostat guidance while noting the electrical capacity of older buildings may require phased infrastructure investment. Garrett said he would produce cost estimates and a timeline for system improvements for future commission consideration.
