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Kootenai County: Juvenile Justice Center chiller failed; temporary staff move planned while replacement is engineered
Summary
Facilities staff told commissioners the Juvenile Justice Center chiller has failed, a replacement and cooling tower could cost about $400,000–$450,000 and take up to a year; about 28 people would temporarily move to courthouse space and portable AC will be used for some staff.
Jeff Bolland, a county facilities staff member, told the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on June 30 that the chiller at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) has failed and cannot be repaired. "They said, 'No, we really can't repair,'" Bolland said. He said a replacement that includes a new cooling tower is a "rough order of magnitude" $400,000 to $450,000 and will require engineering work and formal solicitation of contractors.
Because the JJC will not have cooling for the summer, Bolland proposed temporarily moving staff to vacant space on the courthouse second floor that formerly housed prosecutors. He said the space could accommodate about 28 people, including bailiffs, administrative staff and probation officers. "If everybody moves over, it'd be about 28 people," he said. Bolland said portable cooling units would be installed for some administrative areas and that the county is exploring reserve fund sources and five‑year plan money to cover replacement costs.
Courts operations and security were raised as immediate concerns. Lisa Cheeseborough, who spoke about routing court sessions, said in many cases hearings could be moved to other courtrooms on campus but cautioned that on busier days there may not be sufficient capacity. She also urged clarification on expectations for bailiffs if court is moved or if some staff remain at the JJC.
Bolland said he will meet with an engineer to evaluate options and expects the procurement process and necessary engineering could mean a replacement is up to a year away. Commissioners asked whether the county had budget authority for lock changes and other security measures; Bolland said lock work is simple and funded, and staff are assessing reserve funds for the larger replacement project.
The discussion was described as a plan for temporary relocation and an engineering/solicitation process for long‑term replacement. No formal vote was recorded; staff will return with more detailed cost estimates and an engineering plan.
