MoCo Gives Update on Courthouse

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

During the April 13 meeting of the Montgomery County Commission, Emergency Management Agency Director Tristan Willis updated commissioners on the condition of the courthouse, which recently had to close for a week due to an issue with an air conditioning unit.

On Friday, March 27, the courthouse was evacuated after an air conditioning unit locked up, filling the building with smoke and heat, while working to cool the facility. Local firefighters arrived on scene and probed the situation, determining there was no fire, but that the heat and smoke that filled the building came from the air conditioning ducts. The courthouse remained closed for the rest of the day on Friday, March 27, and continued to be closed until reopening on Monday, April 6.

“We found the source of the issue and contacted the air conditioning contractor. They showed us where the issue was, shut down the unit, and got it all fixed temporarily to my knowledge,” Willis told the commissioners. “After that, I was asked to do a fire inspection of the building, so a thorough inspection of that was done. I’m still working on that report.”

He stated that he hoped to share those findings in the next meeting.

County Manager Heather Scott informed the Commissioners that the air conditioning unit was installed in the Courthouse in 1991, so insurance had agreed to pay to replace the damaged unit. However, Scott shared that the insurance agent had recommended replacing both of the 1991 units within the courthouse that are used to heat and cool the downstairs offices because the new unit will cause the old unit to deteriorate more quickly. Willis and Commissioner Pedro Sharpe agreed with this, as they explained that in their experience with similar situations, older units malfunctioned very quickly Commissioner Amie Vassey asked Scott and Willis how many air conditioning units within the county were 1990’s models and if more assets in buildings would need replacing soon. Scott shared that she was not sure the exact amount, but many of them were old units, and Vassey suggested beginning to make an action plan for addressing all of the units.

Scott shared that she has been working on applying for a grant to replace the 10-ton air conditioning unit that heats and cools the upstairs courtroom in the courthouse, but it would not cover the two smaller units.

“Luckily, the courthouse did not burn down, but hopefully, this was an easy way to draw our attention to a problem and maybe learn a lesson from it,” Vassey emphasized. “How hard would it be if we started doing a monthly facility inspection of each county building that we own so that we can make a list of these items that we need to start budgeting for over the next couple of years, and address some items and take care of some stuff? We can start looking at things on the work orders and see what is causing those issues in certain places and areas, too. That would be a big help.”

She continued, as she suggested that Willis be the person assigned for these inspections. The group continued the discussion, as many shared that often issues internally in assets will not be found until things break down.

Vassey continued, saying, “I’m shocked that we didn’t replace [the unit] 10 years ago. I mean, it wasn’t on some sort of maintenance list? You know, just my personal opinion, operating a business and a company, you typically have a maintenance list, and when assets start deteriorating, you replace them to prevent structural errors and things like this.”

“Now that we have Tristan on board, and he’s obviously doing a fantastic job, that may be something he could spearhead for us,” she added.

Scott shared that she agreed that could be a positive change for the county, and stated that these inspections could help with Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) safety requirements as well.

She concluded the discussion, as she informed the commissioners that she would work to get bids for the air conditioning units so that they can move forward with the replacements in the coming months.