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Commissioners declare emergency, authorize repair after boiler failure at Orange County Museum
Summary
After a boiler failure around Jan. 30 damaged pipes at the county museum, commissioners cited a countywide disaster and authorized emergency repair work to proceed with a local HVAC contractor after obtaining quotes.
County officials told commissioners that the boiler at the Orange County Museum failed on or around Jan. 30, causing burst pipes and extensive damage. The county attorney said the repair fell under a temporary countywide disaster issued Jan. 24, 2026 for severe winter weather and cited Indiana code 361129 to authorize emergency procurement without formal advertising.
According to the attorney, the county solicited quotes from three firms; two respondents said the job was outside their scope and Maringers Music Heating and Cooling provided a viable quote. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved proceeding with Maringer under emergency procurement authority by voice vote (3-0).
The attorney noted that the museum building is county-owned, distinguishing it from nonprofit-run museums, and said the minutes must document the emergency declaration and the names of vendors invited to quote. Commissioners directed staff to complete repairs under the emergency authorization and to document the procurement details in the meeting record.
No dollar amount for the repair was discussed during the public meeting, and commissioners did not set a timeline for completion in the session. County staff and the sheriff indicated they will take photos of damage and proceed with repair coordination.
