PORT ANGELES — The antiquated climate-control system at the Clallam County jail is getting a face-lift that is expected to save the county money.
Clallam County commissioners issued a call for bids for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system Tuesday. Bids are due June 21.
“Our system now is 30 years of age,” said Joel Winborn, Clallam County parks, fair and facilities manager, in a work session Monday.
“Many of the components — one major one, actually — is not working at all anymore.”
Winborn said the new system will cut utility costs by about $44,000 per year.
Funding comes from real estate excise taxes.
In December 2009, commissioners inked a $99,913 contract with Berona Engineers Inc. for the design phase of the project.
“We went through the bidding process at the end of last year,” Winborn said. “Bids came in over what we had anticipated.
The county “worked with the engineer to take a second look at any cost savings that we could come up with, and I think we’ve pulled a couple out of there,” Winborn said.
Construction is scheduled for July through January.
“I think we need to get this done,” said Commissioner Steve Tharinger, a state Legislator who participated in the work session by speakerphone from Olympia.
“Hopefully the bids will come in at a price that we can afford.”
In other action, commissioners Tuesday approved a letter of support for a National Scenic Byway grant from the Federal Highway Administration.
The Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway Association is seeking the $329,600 grant to create a visitor complex off state Highway 112 just east of its Elwha River bridge.
Overlooks and an interpretive center would allow the public to watch the Elwha Dam demolition.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
