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$2.8M pact for Oakhill work awarded
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Oakhill Renaissance Place
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County Building Commission awarded a $2,883,000 contract to Prout Boiler, Heating and Welding Inc. of Youngstown to replace chillers and an air-handling unit at Oakhill Renaissance Place.
The two chillers serve all the former hospital complex, and the air handler to be replaced serves the tower wing that was built in 1972. Oakhill, 345 Oak Hill Ave., is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center, which the county bought in 2006.
Large units designed to serve the round-the-clock operational needs of a hospital will be replaced with smaller, energy-efficient units more suitable for serving a county office complex that is normally open only during regular business hours, said Joseph Verostko, the county’s mechanical-engineering consultant.
Verostko estimated Thursday that energy savings of about $225,000 annually will allow the county to achieve a 12.8-year payback on its investment in the new equipment.
The new installations should take about nine months to complete and have a 30- to 40-year life expectancy, Verostko added.
Tracie Kaglic, Oakhill renovation-project manager with Olsavsky-Jaminet Architects, said she hopes most of the work can be done during the winter when the air- conditioning system is not in use.
Kaglic told the commission that county facilities-department employees are working to prepare first-floor quarters at Oakhill for the county board of elections, which will move there later this year from the South Side Annex on Market Street.
Pete Triveri, county-facilities director, said he does not yet know how many of the six laid-off facilities workers will be recalled for this effort or when they might be recalled.
Kaglic recommended re-advertising for bids for operation of Oakhill’s cafeteria early next year after all county workers move there from the annex, which the county intends to close.
After that happens, the estimated 400 workers now at Oakhill will grow to about 450, plus additional visitors to the building, making operation of the cafeteria more financially feasible, she said.
When the auto title department moves to Oakhill, the visitor count will increase greatly, Kaglic added. Besides the title office and board of elections, the county’s recycling division and adult day-care center and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force also will be moving from the annex to Oakhill.
AVI Foodsystems Inc. of Warren was the only company that submitted a bid to operate the cafeteria when bids were sought in March.
Comments
I thought the county was broke. Another 3 million dollars for Oak Hill and we can't fund the sheriff's department. And the Courthouse is falling apart but there is no money to repair a historic building like the courthouse.
This would be my first exhibit in the criminal trials coming up. There is no end to the spending at this money pit.
DOES THE '400 WORKERS NOW AT OAKHILL' INCLUDE THE 26 EMPLOYEES LOSING THEIR JOBS TODAY?
How much money did the HVAC people donate to Two Ton Tony, Lambduck David, Indicted John and Georgette?
Send in Mark Belinky's crack chief investigator Don Gaudio Jr to get the real numbers!
Exposed, this has absolutely nothing to do with the trial.
I thought Oak Hill was a good investment for the county? This is the price we pay for the incompetent decisions of our commissioners.
Would it be better to keep paying maintenance costs AND pay rent?
Way too soon to make a judgement on the purchase. The County is still moving it's work force into the building, which will reduce expenses from other locations.
It's a 12.8 year payback on the equipment, with a 30-40 year life expectancy.
Are you that stupid?
I also heard on the news this morning that part of this is covered with Federal dollars, not an entire County expense.
JME...whether it lasts 30-40 years, it still is an added expense to the taxpayer. Not to mention the nearly $1 million in back real estate taxes that must be paid by the county. Stupid are those that believe that this was a well thought out decision.
Stupid are those that believe that this is a bad decision.
See how easy it was for me to make this statement that is counter to your own? That doesn't make either one true, however.
The contract in this article costs $2.8. This is not paid for with federal monies. That project will cost another $3 plus million. The county has bids out there for removal of the smoke stack, repairs to roof, and on and on. I thought this project was supposed to cost $75,000? This project is a joke. If it were not for Oakhill, what would Vindy have to report on?
"If it were not for Oakhill, what would Vindy have to report on?"
Also gives something for people to bitch about.
"Come on city_resident. People aren't stupid because they have a differing opinion. You can do better than that to support Oak Hill."
It wasn't my intention to call anyone stupid. I was simply replying to AKAFR1's post above mine.
"The County still has other offices, and a huge Courthouse. Oakhill consolidated some offices, but hasn't gone far enough."
They aren't done consolidating, either. That's why it's too early to tell if this is a good move or not.
"As others have said Oakhill is not central and is in a sketchy area. That doesn't help the populace either-- especially those who are car free or car light."
How is the area sketchy? There is almost nothing around it. Regardless, it's served directly by the Glenwood bus. And, if one is willing/able to walk a few minutes, (0.4 mile) is near the Austintown, Cornersburg, and Steel bus routes.
"In this age governments are unloading their real estate"
Can you provide examples? I believe that Akron (or Summit County maybe) has consolidated offices in an existing building similar to Oakhill.
here are some facts
portage county bought the old robinson hospital building in ravenna and it turned into a money pit.
the county maintenance costs not including huge expenses like this article writes about went from $2.6 million before the county bought oak hill to $4.6 million in only 3 years
could pay for a lot of deputies or fix the courthouse
each year the costs are going up in a major way.
the area is a ghetto pure and simple
would you walk to market street to catch a bus downtown
walk down oak hill
near Austintown bus routes
let traficanti walk .4 mile to anywhere around there
there is asbestos in the building
there is mold in the building
"here are some facts
portage county bought the old robinson hospital building in ravenna and it turned into a money pit."
What are the numbers from this money pit?
Regarding Oakhill, are these costs or capital? Costs refers to regular operating expenditures, whereas capital is a large amount involving a major piece of equipment/addition/project etc.
With Capital projects, you look at the long-term, not what comes out of your pocket right now.
Chiller/air handling unit is a capital project - looking at the whole picture, not just what is shelled out right now.
Can you guys stop using the asbestos/rats/snakes/fleas excuses. There is no merit to them. Why is it that only the JFS folks are the only ones whining.
Oakhill is here to stay.
The money keeps going into this white elephant and where is the outrage??? Jobs are lost in the county, safety workers laid-off - but let's put more money into prosecuting those who opposed the Oakhill purchase!!!!