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County staff warn failing jail HVAC controller, propose $234,500 replacement; roof faces larger future cost
Summary
County budget staff told commissioners the jail's HVAC control system is at end of vendor support and intermittently locks up, making cell-temperature monitoring unreliable; a vendor estimate to replace the controller and 31 unit modules was $234,500. Commissioners were also warned the jail roof may need a larger repair or replacement in coming years.
Shelly, Cook County's budget officer, told the commissioners the jail's HVAC control system has been glitching and sometimes locks staff out of monitoring or adjusting temperatures, creating risks for inmates and staff if the controller fails.
"If it did crash and we we weren't prepared for it, you're looking at having to first of all, it's going to take some time to get a company to come and do an assessment," Shelly said, describing a vendor estimate to replace the mainframe controller and all 31 unit modules for about $234,500.
The system ties individual electronic modules at each cell to a central controller; Shelly said a failure would force staff to install temporary thermostats on every unit and could leave the jail without reliable temperature control and diagnostic data while contractors respond. Commissioners were told wiring appears intact, so a like-for-like controller and module replacement is feasible but costly.
Shelly also reported on related building needs at the jail and courthouse. She presented estimates for replacing multiple HVAC rooftop units (line-item figures from $15,000 to $20,000 per unit, with higher cost for crane set and rooftop work at the jail) and said the jail roof has been patched for years but may eventually need either a roughly $200,000 extensive overhaul to extend service life or a full replacement she estimated would exceed $2 million.
The county discussed staging work and using contingency or capital lines to respond to emergent failures; no formal vote was taken. Commissioners asked staff to get multiple bids, consider software updates or spares for complex equipment, and to return with procurement options and a timeline before a final funding decision.
The court deferred final approval of any capital appropriation to the formal budget process but recorded the vendor estimate and the operational risk so it can be prioritized in the upcoming fiscal plan.
