By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Not an inexpensive operation but a necessary one. That's how local contractor Mark Bitter described a hiccup in the plan to move Barton County employees into the High Noon Properties building, formerly the JC Penney building, located at 1500 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. The move is part of the county's $4.2 million HVAC and renovation project at the Barton County Courthouse. The problem is missing HVAC equipment that was supposed to provide cool air for the High Noon Properties building.
"The equipment that was supposed to maybe be showing up sooner didn't show up sooner," Bitter told the Barton County Commission during a study session Wednesday. "It was actually supposed to be here tomorrow, and they've now back-ordered it to the end of July. Which isn't good news."
Bitter explained only two companies manufacture the equipment needed for the building. The piece is not available anywhere in the U.S., not even in a warehouse waiting to be installed elsewhere. He is now working with an expeditor to get the piece to Great Bend as quickly as possible.
"I feel a lot of responsibility because you guys have been very clear with your deadlines since day one," said Bitter. "You felt like by, sometime in July, you wanted to be in there operating. I feel like that's what we agreed to. We're looking at other options."
Bitter further explained that two 20-ton HVAC units were to be installed at the High Noon building. He has reserved a 40-ton trailer-mount unit that could be attached to existing duct work to cool the lower floor until the ordered equipment arrives. He has tentatively reserved the unit for July 1.
"Ideally, we get the equipment here and get the unit running the way we all intend to have it done," he said. "If not, I intend for the building to be usable by the dates you guys need. I know the commitment extends way past us. You've got lots of other subcontractors and contractors looking at this building."
Beyond the HVAC issue, Bitter said work inside the High Noon building is progressing nicely. Carpeting should be completed on the first floor by June 6, and the painting is already complete on the first floor. He did suggest the county not leave the escalators running all the time. While functional, the rubber rails have aged and could cost as much as $40,000 to replace, which was suggested if the escalators are left on several hours a day, five days a week.
Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson reiterated the county's original plan included a June 15 start date on the move to the High Noon property and other locations. That is still the target date.
The tentative plan is for all Barton offices in the courthouse to function on the first floor of the High Noon building, with the second floor used for storage. Employees will use the west and south entrances to the building, parking on Broadway and Kansas Aves. The parking lot to the east of the building would be reserved for county patrons.
In February, the Barton County Commission approved leases for the High Noon property and the Great Bend, LLC. property located at 1709 Main Street, for a total of $20,000 a month for 12 months, plus $30,000 to hold the buildings until the lease begins. In April, the body approved another lease for the property located at 1520 Main Street.