FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio — Even though the $240,000 renovation of the Fairview Park Police Station locker room was completed roughly 18 months ago, ongoing HVAC issues continue to plague the project.
That includes the upcoming installation of a third HVAC unit — which comes with an $18,000 cost.
“The heating and air conditioning unit lasted six months before it malfunctioned,” Police Chief Paul Shepard said. “They had it repaired and replaced. They reinstalled it with an attachment to make it work better, and it malfunctioned again.
“We’re pretty confident with the new contractor putting it in that it’ll be OK. Overall, we’re very pleased with the work that was done down there, so it’s one minor blip.”
The Fairview Park Police Station’s new locker rooms and bathrooms. (Photo Courtesy of the Fairview Park Police Department)
In addition to expanding the women’s locker room, the renovation project replaced outdated lockers with 27 modern units. Amenities include electricity to charge flashlights, tasers, radios and phones, as well as ventilation to dry out sweaty bullet-proof vests.
It’s the latter, along with staying cool during summertime heat, that’s been the issue.
“Basically, it’s supposed to get the moisture out of the lockers so it keeps our gear fresher and cleaner,” Shepard said. “That does play an important role, especially during the summertime when the officers come back sweaty after a long day of work.
“If the system is working properly, ambient air will be flushed into the locker and the vests will be better able to wear during the next shift.”
The Fairview Park Police Station’s new locker rooms and bathrooms. (Photo Courtesy of the Fairview Park Police Department)
The police chief said he doubts the city will be on the hook for the $18,000, considering that it’s new construction and the HVAC unit failed twice.
Once City Council approves the work, the hope is — barring any supply chain issues — the new unit will be installed by late spring, before the weather warms up.
“It’s been challenging, but we’re optimistic we can get it straightened out here in the near future before temperatures rise, which is what we’re concerned about,” Mayor Patrick Cooney said.
“The locker room was pretty outdated. It’s obviously much nicer now. We’re happy for our officers to have a new and updated locker room. We just want to finish this part of it and move on to the next project.”
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