HVAC System Gets Chilly Reception From Crawford County Officials

Crawford County officials gathered March 15 to air their grievances over an HVAC system installed by EPM.

Officials said the system, which was $200,000 and paid for by CARES Act funds, did not adequately heat the courthouse.

“I don’t care for your product,” said County Clerk John Martin, who led off the discussion. “It doesn’t work as well as we were told.”

Treasurer Karen Sikes said she had issues with the thermostat.

“When the system kicks on, it doesn’t go off,” she said. “There’s no control.”

Jim Johnson, one of the representatives from EPM, said they had not been given any feedback by county officials.

“You guys are supposed to be monitoring it,” Martin said.

Circuit Court Clerk Karen Harlan said she wanted to be able to control the thermostat, which was eventually permitted.

Recorder of Deeds Kim Cook said the system had no consistency and her office was running space heaters.

The temperature of her office is important to the maintenance of documents that are nearly 200 years old.

“I have documents going back to 1832,” Cook said. “They have to be kept between 68 and 70 degrees.”

Robin Wilkerson works in the prosecuting attorney’s office. Wilkerson said she comes in on Mondays with the temperature at 61 degrees.

By the end of the day, it’s 64 degrees.

Major Adam Carnal of the sheriff’s department said their building is newer and doesn’t have as many efficiency issues as the courthouse, but he said the COVID-19 mitigation system that was promised doesn’t work.

Johnson and EPM president Ben Trout said they would be reviewing all of the feedback and working to fix the issues.

While Martin threatened to cut his office off from the system, Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders pleaded with officials to give EPM a chance.

“Give them some time,” Sanders said.