Knox County board approves emergency replacement of Mary Davis Home boiler after officials warn unit is crumbling

The Knox County Board voted Oct. 23 to approve an emergency resolution to replace the heating boilers at the Mary Davis Home after officials said one boiler is nonfunctional and the remaining unit is crumbling and leaking steam.

Chair Jared Hawkinson told the board the county was notified by the vendor and shown video and photos of internal metal breaking apart and steam spraying from cracks, and said the facility could be left without heat if the second boiler fails during the coming cold spell. He said the chief judge advised moving forward immediately because a heat-system failure could force closure of the facility and the removal of juveniles, increasing costs and disrupting circuits that house youth at the county facility.

The emergency label prompted an objection from David Amor, a resident who spoke during public comment. "I would like to ask the chairs of the relative committees and the chair of the board to explain how this could possibly be an emergency," he said, and asked whether declaring an emergency amounted to avoiding competitive bidding and awarding work to "the usual suspects." Chair Hawkinson responded that the board had known about the need for replacement for roughly two years and that the boiler was listed as the top priority on a performance-contract replacement plan in the board packet, but he said the visible, accelerating deterioration observed last week necessitated immediate action.

"We were aware of it," Hawkinson said. "It was on the agenda or on the list to be replaced... it was the number one item on the performance contract replacement plan." Member Crane added that the boiler was likely about 30 years old and that the board had tried to avoid an emergency but had been forced into this situation by deferred maintenance.

Board members discussed insurance and mechanical-breakdown coverage; staff said they would pursue coverage but cautioned that age and prior maintenance practices can affect eligibility. Officials also noted the facility was included in prior performance-contract planning and that staff expect to follow up with additional reporting and oversight for grantees and contractors where applicable.

By roll call the motion to approve the emergency replacement passed unanimously (14 yes, 0 no). The action directs staff to proceed with immediate replacement work to restore reliable heat to the Mary Davis Home.

Why it matters: County officials said the Mary Davis Home houses juveniles from multiple judicial circuits; loss of the facility would require relocation of residents and could impose significant operational and financial burdens on the county and partner jurisdictions. The board said the emergency action is meant to prevent those outcomes.

Next steps: Staff will arrange replacement work and pursue any available insurance coverage; the board noted the county previously included the project in performance-contracting plans and said it will continue oversight and reporting related to use of funds and vendor performance.