MASON CITY – Replacement of the HVAC system in Mason City’s city hall could cost over $1.2 million but provide an annual savings on energy costs.
The Mason City council Tuesday night approved notice to bidders and prepared plans / specifications for the City Hall HVAC replacement project. A public hearing date was set for April 5, 2016.
KJWW Engineering has completed design, plans and specifications for the City Hall HVAC Replacement Project. KJWW has worked with the City’s retained Construction Manager, Henkel Construction, who has completed the cost estimate for the project. The project is estimated to cost $1,259,266, which includes an expected $15,000 rebate from Alliant Energy.
The project includes replacement of the current heating and cooling systems in City Hall with all new equipment and replacement of the individual pneumatic controls with modern, electronic controls. The existing ducting will be reused, but nearly everything else will be new. The new system will heat and cool the building more efficiently without the hot and cold spots that result from the aging system now in place. The new system will also be more cost effective. The engineers estimate an annual energy cost savings of $37,229.
City documents say that the project manager from Henkel Construction claims there is strong interest in this project and their staff is confident they will receive competitive bids from several qualified area contractors.
This project is authorized under the approved Capital Improvements Plan for fiscal year 2017.
Solution – fix it and pay for it – no raises for public servants until it’s paid for or let them sweat like the private sector does.
for a number of yrs the police department did not have A/C, it was broke, $25,000 to fix it and they didn’t do it. Instead they put in awning windows which only let the 95 degree air in. $25,000 compared to #1.5M guess it just matters who you are
Just re-read the MacNider Art Museum sidewalk article from a few years ago. Wonder how many “surprises” they will find with this job?
The cost/benefit savings does not appear to be worth the magnitude of this investment. Payback and savings wont be realized until 30+ years down the road.
Your exactly right, and that doesn’t take into account cost over runs and change orders.
Screw them. Let them sweat.