Marshall County Commissioners address HVAC control issues in County Building

The Marshall County Commissioners are taking steps to address malfunctioning HVAC controls in the County Building after hearing concerns from the Building and Grounds Department last week.

Billy Schoff, head of the Marshall County Building and Grounds Department, appeared before the commissioners to report ongoing issues with the facility's climate control system. Commissioner Jesse Bohannon told GIANT fm WTCA that the building is currently experiencing inconsistent temperatures, leaving some offices too cold, others too hot, and some just right.

While the current level of urgency is manageable, Schoff warned the commissioners that if the equipment fails completely, the situation will escalate quickly, as the system controls the temperature for the various offices throughout the entire County Building.

Commissioner Stan Klotz acknowledged that the necessary repairs will come with a large price tag, prompting a discussion on the best way to solicit contractors for the project.

Klotz asked County Attorney Surrisi about the procurement process, specifically whether the county could use Requests for Proposals (RFPs) instead of traditional sealed bids.

“Obviously, we have to bid them, but do we have to do sealed bids, or can we ask for RFPs?” Klotz asked. “I’m asking because the sealed bids are a bit more restrictive, and with the RFPs, I’d like to have the companies come here and tell us what we need to make sure we haven’t missed something.”

Attorney Surrisi advised the board that there is a separate statutory process required for handling RFPs.

Moving the project forward, Bohannon made a motion to initiate the bid process under the guidance of the county attorney.

Klotz assured Schoof that the repairs would happen "one way or another." He stated that the commissioners will work with legal counsel to determine the best path forward, whether that involves taking traditional sealed bids or developing a scope of work for an RFP process.