Keeping cool in the courthouse

Keeping cool in the courthouse

New AC system up and blowing in county hub

news@theeveningtimes.com

Employees at the county courthouse can put away their window fans.

After a slight delay in installing a new heating and cooling system which left some offices fighting off the summer heat, all of the offices in the building now have individual heating and cooling units.

“It’s pretty much done,” said County Treasurer Charlie Suiter, a former contractor who researched the new heating and cooling system. “We have all the offices done. They are just finishing up some of the little details.”

The county replaced its 60 year-old chiller-boiler system with a new $480,000 heating and air system which has individual thermostats and heating and cooling units in each room. Contractors installed the condensation lines on the second floor first to get the main courtroom up and running first then experienced some delays getting the first floor offices finished, forcing some offices to employ fans and open doors and windows to keep the rooms cooled off.

Suiter said so far the system is doing a great job keeping the building cool.

“It’s working really well,” Suiter said. “I love it in my office. And I know the other offices are loving it.”

Suiter said the main courtroom is the only one which is still not where it needs to be as far as being cool enough.

Contractors have added extra insulation to the roof deck and hope to have it straightened out soon.

“It’s still a little hotter than it should be,” Suiter said.

“We’re still having a little trouble getting it to balance out.”

By Mark Randall