Muskogee board approves chiller replacement contract and lease financing

A staff member presenting facilities items told the Muskogee board the district will replace the high school chiller and has a contract with Johnson Controls to do the work, and the board approved the contract and related financing on a single motion.

The facilities presenter said the chiller system "is to replace the chiller system at the high school, which I believe is maybe past its useful life," and noted a Johnson Controls representative was present to answer questions. Because the project is high-dollar, staff said the district will use lease-purchase financing with Government Capital over a seven-year payoff and that paperwork includes a $3,000,000 placeholder to cover potential fees while the project estimate is nearer to $2.09 million.

Board members pressed staff on durability and past maintenance. A board member asked the expected lifespan of the new chiller; staff replied the new system is expected to last about "25 to 30 years." The board also discussed past bond work that replaced a boiler but did not replace the chillers; staff said the chillers dated from the 1990s and that as units age parts can become obsolete.

On a single motion to approve Items 3A–3C (the Johnson Controls contract, the lease-purchase financing arrangement, and a purchase order for fleet fuel), a board member moved, the motion was seconded, at least one board member voted "Aye," and the Chair announced the motion carries. The record captures the approval but does not include a full roll-call tally in the provided transcript excerpts.

The board’s action authorizes the facilities contract and the financing approach; staff indicated further details on exact pricing and financing fees remain estimates to be finalized as the contract and financing are completed.