GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – The Hall County Jail will have to wait to get a new HVAC system.
During Tuesday’s Hall County Board meeting, a motion to set a bid date in January for replacing the jail’s HVAC system failed in a 3 to 4 vote.
This came following a discussion that the board should wait as they try to figure out some things regarding space at the courthouse.
The estimated $1 million project would either replace or repair the 14 units at the jail. They have been in operation since the jail opened up at the new location in 2008.
The project would be paid through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
During the discussion, Commissioner Gary Quandt said if the units are working now, the board needs to hold off 60 or 90 days so they can get a better understanding of courtroom costs. He made a point that maybe they could use ARPA funds for that instead.
Hall County Jail Director Todd Bahensky told the board that there’s a risk if units fail and they can’t repair them they could shut down housing units and have to find somewhere to house people. He also said it could be six months from when the order is placed to even get the units.
He said every year when they start up the air conditioning unit, there are problems and they have to make repairs.
Bahensky said more recently, they had an issue with heating in one of the units for a short time, and they had to hand out extra blankets.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said that they aren’t replacing perfectly good equipment.
“We’re replacing equipment that we are limping along on and a critical situation where people have to be housed. We don’t have a choice,” Lancaster said.
While Lancaster wants the work done now, Commissioner Karen Bredthauer said she thinks they should postpone so they have time to look at finances.
The board ended up voting to wait and look at the costs for the courtroom project.
Bahensky said he has his request for proposal ready for when the board is ready to set the date.
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