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This was initially posted Nov. 23, 2016.
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.
