Houston to replace heating, air systems in court annex

WARNER ROBINS -- The approximately 40-year-old heating and air systems in the Houston County courthouse annex and State Court are projected to be replaced by the end of the year.

The commissioners voted Tuesday to hire International City Builders Inc. as the construction manager for the project, which is expected to cost between $750,000 and $1 million.

“We have got a long life out of the entire system in these two buildings and we have had our fingers crossed for a number of years on replacement,” said Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker.

He said the work will be done over about a 60-day period in the fall, when the weather will be most comfortable. The system will operate during that time but may be out in certain portions of the buildings at times, he said.

The work will include replacing all of the duct work, not just the units, Stalnaker said, and the project will be paid for with special local option sales tax dollars.

The board approved International City Builders to manage the project at a fee of 3.95 percent of a guaranteed maximum price, and the company will bid out elements of the project.

Stalnaker said after the meeting that maintaining the systems in the two buildings is difficult because parts are hard to get. At times the system has not functioned properly, causing discomfort for employees and visitors.

Stalnaker said the State Court building was constructed in 1976 and the annex, which houses many of the county’s administrative functions, was built in 1978.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Houston to replace heating, air systems in court annex ."