Jefferson City officials are looking to take one step forward in replacing a 35-year-old heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the Police Department.
At the Council Committee on Administration meeting Wednesday, Operations Division Director Britt Smith presented a report of the HVAC system in the Police Department, which recommended replacement of the current system and duct work throughout the building.
The HVAC system in the Police Department is original to the building, which was built in 1979. Now, 35 years later, the system is having problems, but one of the largest concerns is air quality. Smith said the system came complete with internal insulation that is now causing problems as it breaks apart and is pushed into the air.
That is one reason the department had previously put the replacement of the HVAC system as an unfunded budget request for the 2014 fiscal year. At that time, written justification for the request stated, "There are serious health concerns for the employees working at the Police Department."
But replacing the entire system in the Police Department has always been expected to be a costly project, which is why it hasn't been tackled in previous budgets. According to MECO Engineering, the consultant out of Boonville that performed the most recent study of the system, replacing the system on both the lower and main floors of the building would cost more than $1 million. To replace just the system on the main floor would cost more than $700,000.
Smith said if and when the council moves forward with construction, the most likely source of financing right now would be the fund balance. But City Administrator Steve Crowell said it may be possible to find other sources of funding as things move forward, reminding council members that the most important factor is not that the project is completed fast, but that it is done well.
"I'm not too worried about doing it quicker. I'm more concerned with doing it right," Crowell said.
The committee opted to approve a recommendation to move a design contract for both floors of the building with MECO Engineering forward at an estimated cost of roughly $83,000. The full City Council will review the contract before giving final approval.