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County staff say cracked heat‑exchanger forces Desert Hawk HVAC replacement; in‑house option could save ≈$10,000
Summary
Pueblo County energy manager Jared Mirror told the Desert Hawk board the rooftop unit’s heat exchanger is “severely cracked,” posing carbon‑monoxide risk. Vendor quotes ranged much higher than the county’s in‑house procurement, which staff estimate will keep total costs under $10,500.
Pueblo County staff told the Desert Hawk Management Board on July 15 that a rooftop HVAC unit at the Desert Hawk facility requires replacement after a heat exchanger was found to be "severely cracked." Jared Mirror, identified in the meeting as the county energy manager, said the cracked exchanger prevents the heating side from being used because it "poses severe health and safety risks, with potential for carbon monoxide, to be distributed through the air supply."
Mirror described vendor estimates that ranged from just under $20,000 to just under $30,000 if outside contractors were used. He said county staff located a compatible unit for substantially less: the equipment itself could be procured for just under $8,000 and, with in‑house labor and additional parts, staff conservatively estimated total costs between about $9,300 and $10,500. Mirror told the board the county has licensed HVAC staff who can perform the installation, which would save more than $10,000 compared with contractor bids.
Board members asked for cost breakdown details. Mirror identified additional expected expenses including crane services (estimated $800–$1,000) and sheet‑metal, gas fittings and plumbing; he said the memo accompanying the request used a conservative not‑to‑exceed figure of $10,500. A board member later said staff had been given the green light to procure the unit quickly to avoid seasonality problems that can make repairs more expensive.
The board discussed financing the unbudgeted expense; staff said Desert Hawk’s operating account likely has revenue to cover it but that the expense would require a budget amendment on the county’s books. The transcript does not record a completed budget‑amendment motion or vote within the provided segment.
