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Commissioners weigh short-term fixes after Kootenai County AV control-room damage
Summary
County staff reported significant damage to the audiovisual control room that saturated carpet and affected equipment; commissioners discussed insurance coverage, a roughly $10,000 county responsibility, short-term equipment rentals or outsourcing recordings, and possible room upgrades while repairs occur.
County staff told the Board of Commissioners on May 5 that the county's audiovisual control room suffered a recent failure that left carpet saturated and some equipment damaged. Staff said the insurance adjuster indicated insurance coverage would apply for damage beyond the county's responsibility, and commissioners were told the county would likely be responsible for roughly $10,000 tied to AV equipment replacement or rental.
Commissioners discussed short-term options while the control room is repaired, including renting recording equipment, contracting local vendors to record meetings, or renting portable equipment the contractor who performed the recent upgrade can provide. Staff emphasized that any expenditure above the county's procurement threshold would return to the board for approval; commissioners discussed authorization to approve spending up to $10,000 without returning to the board.
The board and staff also discussed whether to pursue modest room upgrades (painting, lighting adjustments, and carpet replacement) while the room is out of service. Staff said some carpet tiles (about a small group near the door) are saturated and they will check whether matching tiles are still manufactured. Facilities staff indicated some repairs might be done in-house, while other tasks could be outsourced depending on workloads.
Why it matters: the audiovisual system supports public meetings and the county’s ability to record and make meetings accessible. Commissioners emphasized maintaining public access to recordings and asked staff to obtain quotes for rental and short-term recording options and to return with cost estimates and next steps.
Staff will solicit quotes for rental or outsourcing options and report back with a recommended approach and estimated costs.
