Replacing the old boiler is just going to have to wait, say commissioners

The Bourbon County Commissioners voted on Friday to make repairs to the 35-year-old boiler in the Bourbon County Courthouse instead of replacing it with a new system.

Maintenance Supervisor David Neville presented the commissioners with estimates he received from Design Mechanical Inc., of Kansas City, Kan., which hired an engineer to inspect the boiler and provide an estimate for a replacement.

"It is rather costly, but there is a lot to be done," Neville said.

The estimate for replacing a leaking section of the boiler is $12,000. Replacing all 14 sections is estimated at $40,000. Replacing the entire boiler has been estimated at $197,000.

Neville explained the pros and cons of each option. Besides having a boiler that would be up-to-date with current codes, by replacing the entire boiler, there is a potential savings of 40 to 60 percent in the county's gas bills, according to the statement from Design Mechanical.

"There's no guarantee," Neville said. "But that would bring it up to code and when it comes time when we have to change our hot water tanks out, they could be updated to the code and those would also be in and out on a second vent, but that is included in this price. But it's rather extensive to bring it up to code."

Later in the discussion, County Clerk Kendall Mason said the county has spent $12,000 in gas bills since January heating the courthouse and correction center.

"There's no doubt you'll save, but to what extent, I don't know," Neville said.

With the boiler issue arising in October, after the county's 2014 budget was set, cost is the downside of a total replacement.

Neville said making repairs would be cheaper, but there is no guarantee that repairing one section might cause another section to break.

"It could be a domino effect, and it could not," Neville said. "It's something that will have to be addressed in the future, as far as meeting codes."

At this point, the county's boiler system is "grandfathered in," which means the county doesn't have to meet updated safety and mechanical codes until it begins replacing portions of the system. At this point, the county can replace parts.

Before replacing portions of the system, an engineer has to be hired to draw specifications, which have to be approved by the state, Neville said.

"Anything we do, we really need to have on next year's expenses instead of this year's," Commission Chairman Allen Warren said.

Mason said the county would have to pay for any repairs or replacements completed in 2013 out of the FY13 budget. However, if the project begins in 2013 and is completed in 2014, the payment could come from the FY14 budget.

Warren also was concerned about starting repairs in the winter months. Neville said temperatures would have to remain cold for several days before pipes would begin freezing if the entire boiler system had to be shut down.

When weighing the cost of repairing or replacing the system, and how the county would pay for an entire replacement, Warren said the county might be able to finance the replacement.

"It's going to happen to somebody sitting in this chair at some point," Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright said.

Neville warned the commissioners that even if the boiler was replaced, it might be discovered that other portions of the heating system, such as pipes or vents, might have to be replaced.

"I don't think we've got any choice, Warren said." Without doing the whole thing, can we make it through until May or June of next year with what we're running on right now? Another way to look at it is, if you were at home, and these numbers were 10 percent of what they are here, what would you do at home?"

"It's a big decision," Neville said.

"The only guarantee you've got is, where is the next weak link in the system?" Warren said. "If you want a no chance guarantee, you've got to replace the whole system."

Neville said the county could end up replacing a few sections and paying half the cost of a new boiler.

Albright suggested making the $12,000 repair, then looking at options if it appears the county will have to spend more money.

The commissioners agreed.

In other repair matters, Neville reported the insurance company will not pay for replacing sheeting the roof of a storage building at the Public Works Department area. The sheeting had not been damaged in the storm, but had deteriorated with age, Neville said.

Warren asked Neville to meet with Road and Bridges Coordinator Jim Harris.

The commissioners also met with Harris to review his reports and Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn. She provided commissioners with a quarterly report.