When the temperature outside was over 90 degrees in summer, the Homewood Public Library wasn’t a place to go for a break from the heat. It reached over 85 degrees inside the building some days.
The library board voted March 19 to spend $1.2 million to update the system and awarded the contract to Quality Control Systems.
Library Director Colleen Waltman said the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is close to 20 years old. Major attempts to get it working adequately included replacing the boilers in 2015 and both compressors the past five years. The system still left much to be desired.
Board members voted unanimously to go with a new system, Waltman said.
“We have spent considerable funds trying to get it to function properly, both on the noted equipment upgrades and countless service calls, to no avail,” she said.
The board brought in engineers who assessed the system and the library space and used their bid specifications to find a qualified service provider. Quality Control Systems submitted the lowest of the four bids received. The firm previously did work for Homewood District 153 and the Homewood Police Department.
Waltman said the estimate is the new HVAC system will be in place by September, if not sooner depending on the company’s ability to access needed materials.