At the Cook County commissioners’ Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting, Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers appeared before the board with a request for funds that will be used to repair a hole in the YMCA roof and fix pressurization in the pool area.
The current estimated cost is $15,400, but Powers said it would probably run higher, a thousand dollars or more, but that won’t be known for sure until the contractors make an assessment on the work needed to be done.
Powers told commissioners the work was imperative, but for a relatively small cost, it could have a significant impact on the Y and the members who attend the Y.
“I don’t know specifically what will be done,” said Braidy. “I know generally that the area where the ceiling meets the wall in the pool area needs to be sealed completely and that the electronic connection to the building automatic air handling system needs to be restored and then the building automation system can be adjusted to create a neutral to slightly negative pressure. These corrections are needed to prevent humid, corrosive air from moving into the locker rooms and other areas of the YMCA,” Powers said after the meeting had concluded.
Commissioner Myron Bursheim, who sits on the county’s building committee, said once completed, the work will save on heating, air conditioning, and cleaning, cleaning because janitors won’t have to spend as much time removing mold.
Bursheim said he had been involved with buildings that had to be closed because of issues with mold. “I agree with Braidy that this is a public health issue,” he said.
Commissioner Dave Mills asked how the county could be put in the position to “spend considerable money on a relatively new building?”
Attorney Molly Hicken responded, citing that when the facility was built, an assortment of problems occurred. One issue was asking contractors to use cheaper materials to save money on the structure. Another was tying a new building to an old building and older (mechanical, electrical, etc.) systems with more modern systems.
She also said the county’s owner representative could have done a better job of overseeing the work. She added the county had investigated going after the owner representative for damages several years ago but learned, “We would have essentially been suing ourselves.
“I understand the perception that we continue to put more money into the building, but at this point, it’s ours,” Hicken said.
Commissioner Bobby Deschampe, who, along with Bursheim, serves on the building committee, asked Powers to bring a tally of county spending on repairs for the Y (since it was built) to the next building committee meeting. “It seems like it’s one thing after another,” he added.
Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk suggested the county invest more money upfront when building county structures, saying, in the long run, the county will save money and time.
The board approved the engineering consultants to look for contractors who have the specific ability and availability to do the jobs, with Powers authorized to handle the financial transactions.
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