September 7, 2023 |
Photo – Old Postcard of Jeffrey Memorial Community Center – Courtesy ebay.com
The Jeffrey Memorial Community Center will receive needed ventilation system upgrades. A new air conditioning unit will not be one of them.
During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Interim Buildings and Grounds Manager Jeff Askins asked the board for recommendations on how to proceed with required upgrades to the Jeffrey Center’s HVAC system. Askins took over as Interim Buildings and Grounds Manager following Mike Newbrough’s resignation during the August 15th county commissioners meeting. Askins told the board that the outdated pneumatic air flow control system needed to be replaced with direct digital controls.
The board had previously approved roughly $116,000 for the purchase of the digital HVAC controls.
Askins said right now, it would cost around $170,000 to add air conditioning to the 92-year-old former high school. Commissioner John Espy asked Askins if the computerized controls would accept the addition of an air conditioning unit in the future. Askins said yes. County Clerk Gwen Bartlett said the price is very likely to go up if the board waits.
The commissioners expressed concern about where the county would find an additional $170,000 for the air conditioning upgrade. Commissioner Espy asked if the Jeffrey Center would be rented more in the summer if it had forced air cooling. Espy said Rawlins lacks a large air-conditioned interior space for events.
Interim Buildings and Grounds Manager Askins said having air conditioning in the Jeffrey Center may increase the number of summer rentals. However, Askins said the upgraded HVAC controls may make the building cooler without the need for the costly air conditioning upgrade.
Commissioner Espy recommended the board deny Askin’s request for air conditioning at the Jeffrey Center. The commissioner said $170,000 was too much money for the county to spend right now.
The commissioners chose not to allow the purchase of the air conditioning system for the Jeffrey Memorial Community Center. The board told Askin to see if the upgraded HVAC controls keep the building cool next summer.
