County weighs temporary generator and mutual-aid options after courthouse lightning damage

County maintenance staff (Carrie, S15) reported increasing costs and ongoing work to repair HVAC and chiller systems at the courthouse after a lightning strike damaged legacy control equipment. She said a new JACE controller is installed but that multiple fan-control units and other legacy Honeywell components continue to fail; initial repair estimates were at least $34,000 but the total cost is rising as additional failures are identified.

Separately, Carrie said a bacterial contamination in the annex generator fuel system has taken that generator down; repair work will require cleaning injectors and other fuel-system components and could keep the generator offline "probably at least a month yet," with uncertain total cost. Commissioners and staff discussed temporary rental options and focusing backup power on the health department to protect vaccines. Carrie said the county could rent a generator while repairs proceed.

A hospital representative (S17) offered mutual-aid options: relocating vaccines to the hospital's spare refrigeration, installing remote temperature monitoring with cellular alerts, and otherwise helping coordinate backup to reduce county expense. Commissioners asked staff to get quotes for temporary power and to coordinate with the hospital and state contacts as part of contingency planning.

Next steps: Staff will obtain generator rental quotes, continue insurance adjuster communications regarding courthouse damage, and coordinate vaccine contingency plans with the local hospital.