The HVAC system in the Mahaska County Courthouse isn’t going to be updated for a while.  At Monday’s (6/6) Mahaska County Board meeting, the Board rejected both bids to renovate the HVAC system in the Courthouse.  County Board Chairman Mark Groenendyk tells us why.

“The bids came in about double our expectations of the cost, what we expected.  So we think it’s time for further review….maybe wait for a better time…review our outlook and expectations of the systems we wanted and see if we can’t find something that’s more appropriate and more cost-effective.”

Both bids were approximately $3.8 million.  Groenendyk says the Courthouse’s HVAC system isn’t in disrepair, but it is old.

“This is still the old, original heating system in the Courthouse.  And so we’re having issues with the pipes rusting out.  That, in turn, causes damage from water running down the walls.  And when you have to fix the pipe, now you have to fix the sheet rock and everything that goes along with the water damage.”

Groenendyk says the Board of Supervisors wants to see if inflation will calm down or if a less expensive option is available.