NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Harlan Depew with Reno County's maintenance department talked to the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday about the controller for the HVAC at the Courthouse, LEC and Health Department. He said it was installed in 2008.
"Part of that project was installing controls for the new boilers and chillers and pumps and equipment, rooftop units, split units at the courthouse, law enforcement center, and at the health department," Depew said. "That system is now, what would that be, 15 years old? We've kind of limped along with it for the last few years as it went obsolete. Eventually, one of the main controllers has failed in that system, and parts are no longer available. It's time, we're going to have to do something about that to get that system updated to current technology."
Depew checked in to getting the county all on a system from Siemens, but that didn't work out.
"The cost to convert the older system to the DeZego from Siemens is, I just can't justify that much more cost," Depew said. "Our recommendation is to update the system that we have through Sandifer Engineering, and the cost of that was $55,012.58."
Commissioner Ron Hirst also suggested that changing the settings on the system might help in the long run.
"I think it's time that the county takes a serious look at what these temperatures are in the rooms," Hirst said. "That will save enough money in a short period of time to cover this cost."
Commissioner John Whitesel also suggested just putting a sign up letting staff know what the temperatures should be set at, as most people will adjust.