Union County weighs courthouse HVAC overhaul as state funding falls short

County staff briefed commissioners on a courthouse renovation plan that includes both HVAC and windows after an engineering firm outlined work the county would need to replace aging systems.

Mister Williams told the board the firm's "wish list" to replace inside HVAC units, ductwork and pipe work "totaled up a little over $750,000." He said the county had requested $1.4 million for HVAC and windows but received $850,000 from the state, so staff recommends prioritizing window replacement because new windows will improve the HVAC system's effectiveness.

Commissioners expressed concerns that piecemeal repairs could waste state funds if windows are not fixed first. Several members urged soliciting additional quotes and possibly breaking out specific tasks—such as pipe insulation—for earlier, lower-cost work. Staff also said some specialized chiller work may have limited vendor availability and that fully replacing chillers could cost several million dollars.

No formal vote was taken; commissioners asked staff to obtain more firm estimates, explore going out for maintenance bids when contracts expire, and present a prioritized scope at a future meeting.