County maintenance superintendent Don Chambers told commissioners Jan. 5 that he has not been receiving IT system alerts and that the IT rack room lacks adequate cooling; he presented two quotes for cooling upgrades and recommended redundancy to avoid critical system downtime.

Chambers also reported leaks at the Justice Center and provided an initial contractor quote that exceeded the $150,000 public‑purchasing threshold. Counsel and commissioners cautioned that any project over $150,000 requires formal bidding and specifications. Commissioners agreed to hire an independent assessor to evaluate whether the original roofing work was defective (the roof carried a two‑year warranty) and to prepare objective specifications that will be used for a public bid process if replacement is necessary.

Board members discussed technical options for IT‑room cooling, including installing a transfer switch and retaining the existing unit as a backup. Commissioners requested updated, itemized proposals from both vendors that reflect the required redundancy and electrical work.

Why it matters: The Justice Center houses critical functions (court operations, jail, dispatch and other public‑safety systems). Mechanical failures or insufficient cooling for IT equipment can risk system outages that affect public safety and county operations. The independent assessment is intended to clarify liability and guide procurement.

Quotes: "I do not get alerts for the IT system rooms whenever there's a problem," Don Chambers said, explaining the impetus for a monitoring upgrade. Counsel and commissioners asked for an independent roof assessment and for clear specifications to support a fair procurement process.

Next steps: County staff will retain an independent assessor, finalize specifications for the roof work, and publish a public bid if the assessment supports replacement. IT committee and vendors will return with updated cooling quotes and recommended redundancy details.