The Greene County supervisors are revisiting updating the heating/cooling system at the courthouse after supervisor Mick Burkett said a department head meeting last week got “rather heated” over the use of electric space heaters.
Burkett said staff in one office – he did not name the office – has turned off the steam radiators and is using electric heaters because they can regulate them more easily. “That didn’t sound like a very good deal to me,” Burkett said.
The supervisors had a study of the HVAC at the courthouse prepared by Brooks Borg Skiles three years ago. They didn’t follow through with recommendations because of the cost.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph suggested that it’s time to move forward with the project. Board chair John Muir said that water dripping off the many window air conditioners causes him more concern than problems in regulating heat.
Supervisor Guy Richardson, who will complete 16 years on the board in December, suggested the county consider borrowing money to complete the project. “We can easily service the debt and pay it off in short order. And that’s exactly what you need to do,” Richardson said. “Now is the time to do it because the money is cheap,” he said, referring to low interest rates.
The county now has no debt. Peter Bardole, who will replace Richardson in January, said during his campaign that he preferred the county stay debt free.
County engineer Wade Weiss said he will bring the Brooks Borg Skiles plan back to the supervisors for further consideration.
Weiss also reported that repairs to the exterior cover over the large stained glass dome at the courthouse have been completed. Marty Grund of The Stained Glass Company reported to Weiss that the damage was more extensive than expected and that he was surprised there hadn’t been water inside the courthouse.
The next phase of the dome restoration project is to dismantle the stained glass and remove it for cleaning and renovation. That work could begin soon, although Weiss does not have a date yet.
Weiss also mentioned part of the bell frame structure at the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower that has not yet been painted. He said Verdin Company deducted $10,000 from the county’s bill for the work not yet done, and that the plan is to finish the painting next spring when a crane is in place. The delay was caused by safety concerns over painting on the outside perimeter of the bell frame.
