By Allison Peck
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved an emergency repair agreement Tuesday for a failed rooftop air conditioning unit serving portions of the Lincoln County Detention Center, citing concerns for inmate and staff health and safety.
Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Waldinger Corporation to repair the unit at a cost of $26,163.36 during a special emergency meeting called specifically to address the issue.
According to Building and Grounds Director Booker Boyer, the unit serves the detention center's C and D pods, which include a medical housing area and a lockdown unit.
"As of last week, we ended up with an evaporator C coil that has a wear hole in it, two valves and an evaporator," Boyer told commissioners. The failure shut down air conditioning service to both pods.
Boyer said the lack of air conditioning presents particular concerns in the medical pod.
"It's very important because it's a medical pod because there's no air conditioning and this is where we have oxygen on some inmates," Boyer said. "We don't want to stress them out."
He added that high temperatures can create additional challenges inside the facility.
"You get a bunch of inmates in a pod, it gets really hot," Boyer said, noting that elevated temperatures can increase tensions and create safety concerns for detention staff.
Commission Chair Jerry Woodruff said the emergency meeting was justified because the issue impacts the health, welfare and safety of both inmates and staff at the facility.
The repair is expected to take time, however. Boyer said replacement parts must be custom manufactured and are currently estimated to be approximately 30 days out.
Commissioners also discussed whether replacing the entire rooftop unit would be a better option. Boyer estimated a full replacement would cost roughly $70,000 and would still require a special-order unit, resulting in a similar wait time.
Officials said they explored obtaining additional bids and alternative solutions but found limited options due to the specialized nature of the equipment. County Attorney Mike Piccolo indicated the county made a good-faith effort to secure multiple quotes but encountered a lack of available vendors willing or able to perform the work.
Commissioners also asked about temporary cooling options while waiting for parts to arrive. County officials said portable cooling units were considered but determined to be impractical in the secure housing area because of safety concerns.
Boyer told commissioners the facility is currently relying on temporary measures to keep the affected areas operational while awaiting repairs. He noted that additional work is also underway on another detention center HVAC unit, and officials hope to have the remaining systems functioning properly while waiting for the custom parts to arrive.
Following brief discussion, commissioners unanimously approved the repair agreement and adjourned the emergency meeting.