Board approves emergency City Hall boiler replacement; building commissioner cites parts shortages

The Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety approved an emergency proposal on July 22 to replace a failing City Hall boiler with equipment from Resolve Tech LLC after the building commissioner described an urgent risk to the heating system.

Richard Rawlings, the building commissioner, said the building’s two original Italian‑made boilers are aging and parts are difficult or slow to obtain. Rawlings said the city would install one American‑made boiler and part out the older unit to keep spare parts on hand. “It’s kind of an emergency because they’re not gonna last another year,” Rawlings said.

Rawlings told the board the work is being treated as an emergency procurement — Resolve Tech is an approved vendor familiar with the system — and that the installation will take approximately six to eight weeks. He said the funding would come from EDIT funds and that about $300,000 was expected to become available from another project that did not proceed. He also said manufacturer prices were due to rise by roughly 10% at the end of the month.

A committee member moved to approve the proposal and the board carried the motion by voice vote. Board members asked whether the expense was budgeted; Rawlings replied the need was new and that the EDIT fund balance would cover the cost.

What’s next: Resolve Tech will schedule procurement and installation; the building commissioner said the city aims to complete installation within the stated 6–8 week window.