Putnam County approves replacement of failing jail HVAC units
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Summary
The Board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-001 to replace failing air‑conditioning units at the county jail after staff told commissioners the cooling systems are nonfunctional and were under‑sized when originally installed.
Putnam County commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 13 to replace failing cooling units in the county jail, approving Resolution 2026‑001 after staff described the existing systems as undersized and at the point of mechanical failure.
County staff told the board the heating and cooling systems in the facility were originally selected during a value‑engineering process and that the compressors and components are now stressed after roughly a decade in service. Staff said the heating system is separate and currently maintaining temperature, but cooling is not functioning and will become critical during warmer months.
During the discussion, commissioners asked whether the replacement contract included removal and disposal of the old units and whether temporary cooling would be needed while work proceeds. Staff confirmed disposal is part of the contract price and said temporary cooling wouldn’t be necessary if work begins in cooler weather. Commissioners also discussed trade‑in value and whether the county’s in‑house engineer should provide buyer oversight on specifications and life‑expectancy assumptions.
The motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote. Staff said the selected equipment carries a five‑year warranty and is expected to provide a 20‑year service life.
Next steps: staff will finalize procurement and schedule replacement work, with further implementation details to be provided to the board.
