All seven Barren County Magistrates were present for the May 23 special-called meeting. The meeting only had three things on its agenda and two of those were related to the HVAC issue on the old U.S. bank building. Barren County Judge-Executive said she wanted to get this approved so they could have it finished by the time the health department moved into the first floor. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
On May 23, just two days after the regularly scheduled meeting of the Barren County Fiscal Court, the seven county magistrates met in a special-called session to review and discuss the Barren County Development Center — formerly the U.S. bank building, and its HVAC issue.
The development center was originally purchased by the county in 2023 and renovations have been made — for example the magistrates recently approved the removal of the drive through, redoing the drywall, painting, and, most recently, reviewed quotes for new glass doors. The renovations include the HVAC system, and that was the meeting’s main focus.
The first of three items on the agenda was the approval of the direct purchase of the necessary HVAC equipment, which includes two boilers, 39 new individual units and the digital control system, at a price of $353,179. Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd explained that they opted for a direct purchase, as opposed to letting the subcontractor purchase the equipment, in order to avoid the associated taxes.
Byrd commented that by buying direct the county was saving roughly $21,000.
With the HVAC equipment purchase approved they turned their attention to the second agenda item that was very much related as it referred to the work to be done on the HVAC project.
Ascendant Facility Partners — a company out of Paducah that “provid[es] full-service energy and infrastructure solutions for various facility types” which is currently hired by the county to review utilities and energy efficiency of the seven county-owned buildings — is the project manager and Lyons Company is the subcontractor, according to Byrd.
The proposal for the HVAC project submitted by Ascendant was roughly $1.08 million.
“I know we went back and forth of if we just go with what we’ve got in the building [but] I keep thinking long-term,” Byrd said. “We’re going to be in this building for a long time. We’re not doing this building temporary; it’s all for the long run and I do think while everything is out of [the building] and not occupied that this is the time to do the overhaul that it needs.”
Magistrates Marty Kinslow and Brad Groce expressed their support for the decision to move forward despite the large price tag.
“If we’re going to do it we should do it now when the building is empty,” Kinslow said.
Both the direct purchase and the proposal were approved through a roll call vote with Magistrates Derek Pedigo and Ronnie Stinson dissenting.
Byrd said the county is paying for both these items “outright” since they have the necessary funds in their savings account. However, the price would be offset by a number of things including the sale of the old health department building in the fall, the $225,000 gotten from the regional health department, and the soon-to-be-finalized long term maintenance contract. The health department will move to the development center first floor by September.
“I don’t think any of us wants to spend this kind of money, but it’s the most cost-effective time if we’re going to do it,” Groce said. “I think you’ve got to take into consideration that we’re getting $225,000 back, a maintenance contract and you’ve got to remember when you sell [the old health department] you’re going to replenish this money so I just think it’s time to do it.”
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