MONROE — Members of the city council decided Monday that installing two new air units and condensers was more beneficial than rehabilitating them at City Hall as part of ongoing work, voting 6-1 to provide an additional $138,000 to the project.

The recommendation was provided by city staff who had been working closely with energy company Schneider Electric during the Capital and Energy Improvement and Reinvestment Program work totaling over $1 million. 

Alderman Ron Marsh was the sole negative vote during the Monroe Common Council meeting. Council members Michael Boyce, Brooke Bauman, Jeff Newcomer, Rob Schilt, Donna Douglas and Mickey Beam supported the change. Fellow members Chris Beer and Richard Thoman were absent. 

Marsh said spending on City Hall “has got to stop somewhere” as an explanation to why he asked if any other change orders were anticipated. City Administrator Phil Rath said he was unaware of any others, adding that this one was at the direction of city staff, not from Schneider. 

The project is meant to install electric mechanics systems within the building rather than air-operated compression mechanics, leading to more efficiency with automated temperature controls. In some portions of City Hall, there was no way to adjust, leaving employees to use space heaters. There were also problems caused by high humidity in other areas of the building.

When proposed, the new HVAC was meant to provide 20 years of use in cost-neutral operation. The tax-exempt funding leased through Woodford State Bank would be essentially paid back through savings as the result of reduced energy use. Boyce asked whether that would still be true if the second change order were to be approved. 

Technical Services Director Rob Jacobson said staff had considered that and actually identified the equipment as more efficient. He said because of the increased efficiency, city staff and Schneider Electric consultants found that result would remain the same. 

“Nobody seemed to think that was going to be an issue at all, as far as payback,” Jacobson said.

The difference in price allows the city to install new air conditioning units rather than rehabilitating them. Rath said rehabilitation would only last “a few years anyway” because the units would have to be replaced in five years.

“There’s only so much you can rehab it,” Rath said, explaining that most of the parts would be replaced. “They’re basically taking new guts and putting it in the shell.”

Work would include the installation of the two new handling units and each condenser, in addition to coils used with the systems. 

Aldermen also briefly discussed bidding out the work, whether it was required by law or preferable. Rath said the umbrella of the work wouldn’t require it. The arrangement with Schneider would save the city expenses as well because the company agreed to absorb roughly $70,000 of installation costs. It would also be beneficial to replace them while mechanical pieces are already open for work. 

Bauman asked how the change order would be funded. Rath said the facilities capital fund, which has saved funds to be used specifically for the improvement of municipal structures, would cover the cost. 

Rath also said the work would not prevent staff from moving back into the vacant building on schedule after work concludes in the ongoing flooring project. The city estimates the floor will be completed by early September.