Robertson County Commission approves $179,000 HVAC replacement and certified airflow study for archives building

The Robertson County Commission voted Feb. 2 to replace the failing HVAC unit in the county archives building and to add a certified airflow study before installation, following a lengthy discussion about staff health complaints and archive preservation.

Commission Chairman Speaker 1 opened the item as old business, saying the archives building had been closed “now for over weeks” because of HVAC problems. Commissioner Doc Martin introduced the resolution (020-260-0125) and commissioners described recurring odors and reports of dizziness from staff.

Commissioner (Speaker 2) and others pressed for a certified airflow study to determine whether ductwork or contaminants were contributing to the problem. Speaker 2 said the board had received conflicting reports from previous contractors and recommended adding about $10,000 to contract for an independent, certified study so the county would not need to return for more money later. “Trane will come in and do an air study, but it’s not a certified study,” Speaker 2 said, arguing for an outside certified assessment.

Budget chair Bob Kaups (Speaker 6) and others said the archives budget — described in the discussion as approximately $145,000 annually for archives needs — could absorb the replacement cost. Commissioners repeatedly urged doing the job once and correctly to protect employees and archival materials. Speaker 6 noted the unit is a 15-ton system and called the need “vital.” One commissioner summarized staff concerns bluntly: “I can make Jaden a member of the court, but she’s going to just tell you it stinks in there,” (Speaker 1).

The commission moved and voted on an amendment to add the certified airflow study (approximate $10,000) and the amendment passed on a voice vote. The full resolution to replace the unit, including the added study funding, then passed by voice vote. The motion record in the transcript does not include roll-call tallies by individual commissioner names; the clerk announced the outcome on voice votes.

The commission directed staff to proceed with procurement for the HVAC replacement and the certified airflow study. No specific contractor was named in the meeting record; commissioners said Trane had performed uncertified tests but recommended an independent, certified contractor for the formal study.

The commission’s action to replace the 15-ton unit and fund a certified airflow assessment addresses both employee complaints of odors and dizziness and the humidity-control needs cited for preserving archival materials. The archives building had been taken out of service during the evaluation and repair process, and commissioners said they expected the work to proceed once procurement details are finalized.