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Staff recommends caution on permanent fans at Saginaw switch yard, suggests portable storage option
Summary
Staff told the board that large ceiling fans at the switch yard risk weather damage and recommended considering portable swamp-cooler fans stored in a new building; two fixed-fan options were presented ($21,200 for ceiling fans; $12,800 for wall fans) but staff advised caution.
Staff opened the meeting by revisiting prior discussions about cooling at the switch yard and presented two options: installing one 7-foot ceiling-mounted fan under each pavilion at an estimated $21,200, or installing twelve 24-inch wall-mounted fans (four per post) totaling $12,800.
S1 said the electrician who prepared the bids — a contractor who has done considerable work for the City of Saginaw — advised against ceiling-mounted fans because straight-line winds could damage them. Based on that input, staff recommended caution about permanent overhead fans and proposed an alternative: purchasing portable swamp-cooler fans that could be stored in a new storage building after events to protect the equipment from weather.
Board members asked follow-up questions about water-based cooling and logistics. S1 noted concerns about solutions that require water and said staff would obtain additional quotes if the board wished to pursue alternatives. No formal motion was taken on the cooling options; the conversation concluded with staff offering to bring additional quotes and storage logistics to a future meeting.
